Toronto, where he played his first season in Chicago, is a city of hockey. The disappointment prevailed in the city and in the club that after the excellent basic part, the Maple Leafs went into the elimination fights for the sixth season in a row, but they both failed in the first series.
“It didn’t go through the first round for a long time, I don’t know if there was any great pressure because of that, I didn’t feel it, I just wanted to win the series. The disappointment was really big, but it has to go quickly. I’m here, it’s new “I have to say that the city lived unbelievably, in the sixth match there was a huge chance to end it and cross Tampa. Maybe it will work out next year,” said Kämpf.
He arrived in Tampere on Thursday, but will still miss the evening duel with the Latvians. “The trip was fine, I’m glad I’m here already. I just didn’t get a hockey bag and a suitcase, that was the only complication. But I wouldn’t play today, it wasn’t in the game, after all the trip was long and challenging. I need a little here. But I think I will be ready to start and play on Saturday, “Kämpf assured, with a view to Saturday’s duel with Norway.
Another complete season overseas
Nothing prevented him from traveling to Finland. “I talked to (General Manager) Petr Nedvěd during the season and it was clear that if we dropped out, I would come. I’m really looking forward to it, it’s my first World Cup. I hope to help the boys and make some success,” Kämpf wished. whose last national team starts relates to the Swedish Games in February 2017. “It’s been a few years. But I remember it very well, even though I scored my first goal on the Euro Hockey Tour before,” he said.
During the season he showed in a great light. He did not miss a single of the 82 matches in the basic part and scored 26 points thanks to 11 goals and 15 passes. He added two more goals in seven play-off battles.
“I don’t take the season as a turning point, but it was my best in the NHL so far. I’m so glad I played all 82 games in the baseline. In fact, for the third season in a row, I’ve played all the games. I am most pleased that my body can handle it and I can prepare well for all matches, “Kämpf praised.
The important thing for him was that he felt confident, he still had a bigger role than before in the Blackhawks. “I played the third line all season, in Chicago as well, but also in the fourth, it was spinning there. In Toronto, my role was bigger. I played most of the games for over fifteen minutes and I enjoyed it,” said Kämpf, whose club Teammates include star-sized Auston Matthews.
The best scorer of the basic part of the NHL season managed to score 60 goals in 73 games. “It’s a completely crazy number, a really incredible goal,” Kämpf shook his head. “But he’s a really unreal player. He has an incredible shot, he also has a lot of ways to finish and he can score in all different ways, both in a power play and he can fight the situation himself. Hats off to him,” Kämpf said.
Kämpf expects the game to weaken
He is showing the results of the national team at the tournament so far. “But I’ve only seen a bit of the match with Sweden, so I can’t judge very much how the boys played. It didn’t work out against Austria, but we all hope that it will improve,” Kämpf said.
He came across a number of familiar faces in the cabin. “There are quite a few guys I played with in the youth categories. Pasta (David Pastrňák), Vránič (Jakub Vrána) and others. I don’t know some boys, but it won’t be a problem. We’ll get to know each other quickly. “I’m really looking forward to it,” said Kämpf.
He didn’t want to speculate about his place in the lineup. “I’ll leave that to the coaches, I haven’t talked to anyone where I can play,” said Kämpf, who should be a weakening specialist. “When I play it at the club, I reckon it will be my role here, why would it change. I think it will be,” Kämpf agreed.
