Steven Kampfer is the latest experienced head to depart the Boston Bruins, joining David Backes in Providence.
In the past two seasons, Steven Kampfer has only managed 45 games with the Boston Bruins. Realistically, he’s spent his whole career bouncing between the NHL and AHL.
At 31 years old, it’s clear that he isn’t going to suddenly become anything more. He is the perfect depth piece as an eighth or ninth defenseman if the Boston Bruins go on a long run this year, but beyond that, he adds nothing to the line-up.
In calling up Jeremy Lauzon, the Boston Bruins have essentially written the closing chapter on Steven Kampfer’s time with the big club, even if he is still under contract next season.
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Steven Kampfer hasn’t exactly done anything wrong this season, but neither has he done anything to make himself stand out. He is the epitome of middling low-pairing defenseman that can step up and handle an average of 13:38 ice-time across his 10 NHL appearances.
However, when you look at his point production in general he actually screams out AHL defenseman as opposed to an NHL one. In 6 appearances with Providence, he’s produced points at a 0.66 points per game rate, whereas in the NHL, that’s a 0.2 points per game rate.
He brings back to Providence plenty of experience, not just riding the buses but also knowledge of how the big-league room operates. That can only be beneficial to young guns like Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril. Add in David Backes, following his waiving, and you’ve got a room full of NHL voices.
Perhaps Steven Kampfer becomes a useful trade piece for a team that desperately needs a bit more blue-line depth. If the Boston Bruins find useful depth from their younger guys, he’s very much expendable.
We’re not suggesting any sort of trade would be a big one-for-one deal, but certainly a sneaky AHL deal to get a couple of years younger or as a piece in a bigger transaction, maybe there’s value to be found.
In all honesty, this trade isn’t going to have much impact on the Boston Bruins, nor the Providence Bruins. Steven Kampfer out, Jeremy Lauzon in; if anything, it’s a great chance to look at the future.
What’s most surprising is that it’s Lauzon coming in and not Vaakaneinen.