The Maple Leafs activated centre David Kampf from long-term injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon.
The move was expected, as Kampf took reps at his usual spot on Tuesday at practice at the Ford Performance Centre, centring the fourth line between Steven Lorentz and Ryan Reaves.
After practice, coach Craig Berube said Kampf would be in the lineup on Wednesday night in Dallas against the Stars as the Leafs begin a two-game trip.
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Kampf missed the past 12 games with a lower-body injury. He has not played since Nov. 16, when the Leafs beat the Edmonton Oilers in overtime at home.
Kampf has three assists in 18 games this season and, while he won’t add much in the way of offence, his defensive prowess will be welcomed on the Leafs’ penalty kill.
With Kampf back, the Leafs are down to three players on injured reserve — goalie Anthony Stolarz (knee), defenceman Jani Hakanpaa (knee) and winger Calle Jarnkrok (groin). Jarnkrok is on LTIR.
When asked by media in Dallas on Wednesday morning about the status of Hakanpaa, Berube had little in the way of an update.
“He’s still rehabbing, that’s really all I have for you,” Berube said.
Hakanpaa’s knee troubles go back to this past March when he was with Dallas. With the Leafs this season, he has played in only two games, both in the middle of November.
Stolarz was scheduled on Wednesday to have a procedure done in New York to have a pebble-sized “loose body” removed from the back of his knee.
The net, for the most part, will belong to Joseph Woll as Stolarz recovers for at least the next four weeks.
“He has to take the ball and run with it,” Berube said. “He has played really well for us this year and he’s going to be put more on the spot now, not so much of a rotation.
“I think he is prepared for it and I think he wants that.”
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