Top 10 UFA Ontario Boys for the Toronto Maple Leafs

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MONTREAL, QUEBEC – OCTOBER 26: Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images) /

#6 Max Domi

Born: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Age: 27
Position: Left Wing, Centre
Expiring Contract: $5.3 million AAV

Alright, Max Domi wasn’t born in Ontario, but I’m breaking the rules and adding him to this list for obvious reasons. He wasn’t born in Toronto, but he’s still a Toronto boy as he grew up close to Leafs while his dad, Tie Domi, played for the team. The Toronto Maple Leafs were his favorite team as a kid.

It seems like there have been rumours about Max Domi joining the Leafs ever since his draft day, but this may be the first time in his career where Max Domi has a say in where he plays. Imagine witnessing the return of a #28 Domi jersey on the Toronto rink. Fans would lose it. (Sorry Joey Anderson, you’ll need a new number).

Domi would fit into a middle-six role with the Leafs. He had a slow start with the Carolina Hurricanes after being held back a bit offensively by the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he’s been a dynamo in the playoffs so far.

Unfortunately for those of us dreaming about the return of the Domi legacy in Toronto, I don’t expect the two sides to get the money to work. If the Toronto Maple Leafs take a similar approach to free agency as last offseason, they’ll be looking for cheap deals and Max Domi still has enough youth and talent to demand more.

Last year, the most the Leafs spent on free agents was $3.8 million AAV on Petr Mrazek and $2.5 million AAV on Nick Ritchie (yikes! I don’t want to think about those contracts anymore). Domi will get offers that double what the Leafs are likely to spend on a forward.

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