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Max Domi

Trade Candidate: Max Domi

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With the trade deadline now less than a month away, we continue our look at some of the players who have a good chance of being on the move between now and March 21st.

Last season wasn’t a great one for Max Domi.  He struggled to fit in with the Blue Jackets in his first year with the team and certainly didn’t live up to his contract.  Then he suffered a long-term injury and the combination of that was enough to cause Seattle to pass on him for free in expansion (where they instead picked someone that went back to Columbus days later as a free agent).  However, this season has gone a bit better for him which may be enough to help him land a new home with a playoff-bound team in the near future.

Contract

Domi is in the final season of a contract that carries a $5.3MM AAV.  He has a $6MM salary and will be an unrestricted free agent in July.  As his deal only covered RFA-eligible years, he wasn’t eligible for any type of trade protection.

2021-22

Domi went through a bit of a roller coaster in the early going this season.  He came back from shoulder surgery much earlier than expected and was in the lineup on opening night, collecting three points.  Then he had a fractured rib and soon after returning from that, he landed in COVID protocol, missing another three weeks.

Since then, Domi has managed to stay in the lineup, albeit not quite in the role GM Jarmo Kekalainen envisioned when he acquired the 27-year-old from Montreal in 2020.  He has played exclusively on the wing this season instead of filling a spot down the middle as originally planned.  Domi has also spent time on all four lines without really being able to settle into one spot.

Domi has also been very unproductive on the power play.  He has played over 56 minutes on the man advantage this season and has one assist to show for it.  That’s the negative slant.  The positive slant is that all but one of his points have come at five-on-five and the role that contending teams will want him to fill is one that even strength production is more important than producing on the power play.

Season Stats

44 GP, 9 goals, 16 assists, 25 points, -1 rating, 30 PIMS, 65 shots, 13:24 TOI, 47.4 CF%

Potential Suitors

While Domi can play in the top six if needed (he has at times throughout his career), that’s not the role teams should be eyeing him to play.  With that in mind, his suitors should be those that want him for more of a depth spot in their lineup.  That said, Domi’s price tag for that role will limit the number of teams who could realistically fit him in without having to move a roster player the other way.

In the East, I had the Bruins pegged as a possible suitor for Domi at the beginning of the season where his positional flexibility can be useful.  He won’t be their top target but he would add some scoring to their bottom six.  The same can basically be said for the Panthers if some of their stronger targets go elsewhere.  The Rangers have the cap room to add a few pieces and they’re a team that would benefit from adding some offensive skill to their bottom six while still trying to fill other areas.  The Maple Leafs have come up as a speculative fit as of late but depth scoring isn’t their top need; they’d need to strike out on filling those and have Jake Muzzin stay on LTIR for the rest of the season for that to really be an option.

Out West, the Kings may be more inclined to do a smaller deal or two that doesn’t involve giving up any longer-term assets and play it safe.  That’s more of the range that Domi should fit in as he won’t command a significant price in return.  The Predators also have ample cap space and could stand to upgrade their bottom six.  They’re another team where it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll make a big splash so some smaller, safer moves like this may be more in their wheelhouse.

Likelihood Of A Trade

At this point, it doesn’t seem like Domi is a strong candidate to return to the Blue Jackets.  While Columbus has been on a bit of a nice run as of late, they’re still longshots to reach the playoffs.  As long as they’re willing to retain on the contract, there’s a very good chance that Domi is in another uniform after the deadline.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Department Of Player Safety Announces Several Fines

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The Department of Player Safety is working this holiday, as they’ve issued a pair of fines for actions in last night’s Winnipeg Jets-Columbus Blue Jackets game. Max Domi has been fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, while Josh Morrissey has earned a $5,000 fine for slashing. Both are the maximum allowable under the CBA.

That’s not all, however, as Ottawa Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev has earned a $5,000 fine in his first game back from the COVID protocol for cross-checking Timo Meier of the San Jose Sharks.

Morrissey especially seems lucky to have escaped without a suspension, given the violent slash he gave to Alexandre Texier as an empty-net goal went in. He was given a two-minute minor penalty for the play, but the game was out of reach at that point late in the third period.

Domi meanwhile already received six minutes in penalties during the game, but the league did not reveal what exactly the fine was for. The Blue Jackets forward did cause a scrum to happen after shooting a puck into the net well after the whistle, and attempted to fight an unwilling Evgeny Svechnikov while the linesmen were trying to split them up.

Zaitsev meanwhile cross-checked Meier in the face, though not with the force of some previous incidents that have merited suspensions. He didn’t receive a penalty on the play and Meier did not suffer a serious injury.

Blue Jackets Activate Max Domi From COVID Protocol

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This has been a trying season so far for Blue Jackets forward Max Domi.  However, things will be looking up for him now as the team announced that they have activated him from COVID protocol.  Domi was initially placed there on November 1st which means he missed nearly double the minimum time of ten days while recovering.  Columbus had an open roster spot so no corresponding move needed to be made to add him back to the active roster.

Domi was initially expected to miss at least a month of the regular season while recovering from shoulder surgery but was able to get back ahead of schedule, suiting up in their preseason finale and was in the lineup on opening night where he had three points.  However, in just his second game, he suffered a fractured rib which caused him to miss four games.  Then he was back for two more before this bout with COVID.

It’s hardly the start to the season that Domi wanted, especially with the added importance of this being a contract year as he’ll be set to hit the open market for the first time in July.  Coming off a couple of disappointing seasons – one with Columbus and one with Montreal – the 26-year-old needs a bounceback season to rebuild some value.  Now with this behind him, he’ll hopefully have a chance to do just that.

Snapshots: World Juniors, Poehling, Domi

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The World Junior tournament is coming quickly, with the first game just over six weeks from now. As players are sent back to their respective junior teams after short NHL stints, the available options for the event are becoming more clear. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic projects the rosters for the U.S., Canada, Russia, Sweden, and Finland, the groups that are dominated by NHL-drafted prospects.

He also gives his predictions on how the tournament will play out, including medals for three of the usual powerhouses. The tournament is always a point of attention on the hockey calendar as fans around the world get a chance to see the next wave of NHL stars compete at a high level.

  • Ryan Poehling, who won silver and bronze medals at the World Juniors a few years ago, will make his season debut for the Montreal Canadiens tonight. The 22-year-old is off to a great start in the minor leagues with six points in seven games for the Laval Rocket and will get a chance to show he’s ready for the next level. After making quite a splash by scoring a hat trick in his NHL debut more than two years ago, Poehling has only managed two points in 27 games at the highest level.
  • Though he’s completed his mandatory quarantine, Max Domi remains in the protocol for the Columbus Blue Jackets as he goes through the other health screenings involved to make sure he’s strong enough to return. The 26-year-old forward hasn’t played since October 31 and has just four games under his belt this season.

Max Domi Placed In COVID Protocol

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It’s been a tumultuous start to the season for Max Domi, and he now finds himself on the sidelines once again. The Columbus Blue Jackets forward has been placed in the COVID protocol and is out indefinitely. The team has recalled Kevin Stenlund to take his place on the roster.

According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Domi tested positive on Sunday and will be out at least ten days. He is currently in New York City, while the team traveled to Denver after last night’s game.

Domi already missed four games earlier this season with a fractured rib, but made his return a few days ago. In four games on the season he has four points, with his only goal coming in his season debut last month. The 26-year-old forward is averaging just over 13 minutes a night, by far the lowest ice time of his career to this point.

Stenlund meanwhile has yet to play a game for the team this season after suiting up 32 times in 2020-21. The 25-year-old center cleared waivers just before the start of the season and has three points in seven games for the Cleveland Monsters.

Max Domi Activated From Injured Reserve

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are getting a key player back a little ahead of schedule as Max Domi has been activated from injured reserve. Domi was ruled out with a fractured rib and given a two- to four-week timeline on October 18, just ten days ago. The team has also sent Justin Danforth to the AHL to make room on the roster.

Domi will end up missing just four games should he return tomorrow night for the Blue Jackets as expected. It had been quite the start for the 26-year-old forward before he went down to injury, scoring four points in two games despite averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time. He may not be the top-line player that some hoped he could develop into, but he’s an important forward for the Blue Jackets as they continue to try and compete in the Metropolitan Division.

Without him, the team went 2-2 over the past four games but still sits fifth in the Metro despite a 4-2 record. Emil Bemstrom and Dean Kukan remain on injured reserve, but getting Domi back so quickly will obviously be a welcome sight. The lines at practice today, tweeted out by team reporter Jeff Svoboda, indicate that if Domi goes in, he will likely be knocking rookie Yegor Chinakhov out and playing on the second unit with Gustav Nyquist and Cole Sillinger.

Max Domi Out 2-4 Weeks With Rib Fracture

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The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without Max Domi for the next few weeks after placing him on injured reserve today with a fractured rib. The injury, which Domi suffered in Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken, is expected to keep him out between two and four weeks.

Domi was off to a great start for the Blue Jackets, with four points in his first two games. He played just over ten minutes in the game on Saturday, but was still on the ice when Patrik Laine scored the overtime winner. He’ll now miss at least the rest of the month, which would be six games for the Blue Jackets.

The depth of the Columbus organization is already being tested, as both Domi and Emil Bemstrom have sustained serious injuries in the early going. The team is expected to insert top prospect Yegor Chinakhov into the lineup to make his NHL debut tomorrow night against the Detroit Red Wings, after he was recalled yesterday.

Chinakhov, 20, was the 21st overall pick in 2020 and scored in his AHL debut (on his only shot) on Saturday night.

Metropolitan Notes: Domi, Trocheck, Ovechkin, Flyers

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While he was expected to be out until at least November, Blue Jackets forward Max Domi has progressed quicker than anticipated in his recovery from shoulder surgery back in June to the point where he could be ready for next week’s season-opener.  To that end, the team announced today that he’ll be in their preseason finale tonight against Pittsburgh to assess his readiness to start the season.  The injury plus his $5.3MM cap hit resulted in Columbus leaving him unprotected in expansion with Seattle shying away.  While Domi’s long-term future with the team remains somewhat uncertain after a tough first year with them, it looks like he’ll have a full season or very close to it which should help his value on the open market next summer and in the trade market in the months to come.

More from the Metropolitan:

  • While the Hurricanes haven’t yet started extension discussions with Vincent Trocheck, GM Don Waddell told John Matisz of The Score that they do intend to sit down at some point to try to work out a long-term deal. Trocheck’s first ‘full’ season in Carolina was a strong one as he notched 43 points in 47 games last season so it’s understandable that they’d want to keep him around.  However, youngsters Martin Necas and Jesperi Kotkaniemi – both natural centers – are in need of new deals as well next summer and it’s possible that they could view one of them as a replacement for Trocheck if his asking price gets too high.  He has a $4.75MM AAV this season and should be getting more than that on his next deal.
  • Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin will be re-evaluated today after leaving Friday’s game with a lower-body injury, relays Samantha Pell of the Washington Post. He was injured in the first period on a hit on Philadelphia winger Travis Konecny.
  • Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher acknowledged to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer that they may start the season with a minimum-sized roster in order to bank some extra salary cap space early on. Philadelphia’s campaign begins with four games at home and with their farm team in Allentown fairly close by, they can carry the minimum knowing they can recall someone without much difficulty over that first week of the season.

Metropolitan Notes: Nyquist, Domi, Hajek, Jarvis

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While Blue Jackets winger Gustav Nyquist has yet to suit up in the exhibition season, don’t interpret that as a setback in his return from a shoulder injury.  Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch notes that the veteran is cleared for contact and is on the second line in practice but clearly, they’re being cautious after the 32-year-old missed all of last season.  Meanwhile, center Max Domi did some drills at practice on Friday as he works his way back from shoulder surgery of his own.  He’s still expected to be out until November at the earliest but his participation in practice suggests his recovery could be on the shorter end of the five-to-six-month timeline.

More from the Metropolitan:

  • Once viewed as one of the centerpieces of the trade return for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller, Rangers defenseman Libor Hajek’s time with New York could be in jeopardy, suggests Larry Brooks of the New York Post. The 23-year-old has yet to lock down a full-time role and eventually settled for accepting his qualifying offer earlier this offseason.  Hajek has to go through waivers if the Rangers try to send him down and with the potential he was viewed to have just a few years ago, it wouldn’t be surprising if another team put in a claim.  That has him as a bubble player with a lot on the line the next week and a half as a result.
  • With the Hurricanes not being able to send top prospect Seth Jarvis to the AHL due to his age, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer suggests that Carolina may opt to keep him with the big club to start the season. The 19-year-old could play up to nine NHL games before the first year of his entry-level deal would kick in while he wouldn’t accrue a season towards UFA eligibility until he was on the roster for 40 games.  Going that route would allow them a bit more time to evaluate Jarvis’ readiness although the likeliest outcome at this time is an eventual return to Portland in the WHL which isn’t great from a development perspective considering how productive he has been there the last two years.

Poll: What’s The Biggest Protection List Surprise?

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The past 48 hours across the NHL have been nothing short of chaos. With protection lists for all 30 teams due at 3:00 PM ET yesterday, along with the ensuing transaction freeze, a flurry of movement at the deadline drastically changed how many teams were to approach the expansion draft. Projected Seattle picks such as Jason Dickinson and Adin Hill were dealt, along with bigger names like Ryan Ellis and Jared McCann.

That frenzy didn’t stop yesterday, however. With the protection lists not being made available to the public until this morning, nobody was quite sure what their team was going to do. All those questions were answered this morning, some of those answers having potentially seismic implications.

There were many surprise omissions from teams’ protection lists, but let’s start with the elephant in the room. After being first reported by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun last night, Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price waived his no-movement clause and was not protected by the team. It’s an incredible turn of events after the netminder guided the team to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993 while being inarguably their most valuable player.

Another Canadian team made some waves this morning too. The Toronto Maple Leafs opted for a 4F-4D-1G protection scheme, leaving out the newly acquired McCann from their protected list. It doesn’t appear that there’s a side deal to protect him in place, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes that McCann’s acquisition purely ensures that one of him or Alexander Kerfoot will remain on the roster in 2021-22. There were some other big surprises out of the East and Canada too, as Nino Niederreiter, Max Domi, Jordan Eberle, Evgenii Dadonov, and James van Riemsdyk were all somewhat unexpectedly left unprotected by their teams.

And then there’s the Vladimir Tarasenko saga in Missouri. The former St. Louis Blues superstar had requested a trade from the team earlier this offseason after a souring relationship, mostly caused by the team’s handling of his recent various shoulder injuries. He’s been left exposed by the team, meaning that they could use him for nothing rather than taking the best available trade offer. It breaks from practice, including the Columbus Blue Jackets’ protection of disgruntled defenseman Seth Jones.

So, we ask you, PHR readers, what shocked you the most about this weekend’s expansion news? Who was the biggest exposure surprise? Vote in our poll below.

[Mobile users, click here to vote!]

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