Toronto Maple Leafs: Could Max Domi End Up On the Top Line?

In inking Max Domi to a one-year deal, the Toronto Maple Leafs are giving themselves some interesting offensive options.

The prevailing assumption is that Max Domi lands a role in the middle six, but perhaps he is worth a look on the top line.

Mitch Marner clearly has past chemistry with Domi given their success on a line with Christian Dvorak (Montreal Canadiens) as junior stars with the London Knights in the 2014-15 season

Assuming that Auston Matthews is able to gel with him, perhaps this latest Toronto Maple Leafs acquisition is actually a top-line signing.

Can Max Domi Crack The Toronto Maple Leafs First Line?

The points totals last time Marner and Domi played together (per Elite Prospects) are a little irrelevant in gauging the potential for their success in the NHL. However it doesn’t make Marner’ 126 points in 63 games or Domi’s 102 points in 57 games any less impressive, even in the OHL.

You have to make a very clear assumption that Matthews is a vast improvement of Dvorak’s talent, even when you suggest he was possibly a little better than present-day when judged against the lesser junior competition.

Junior results are one thing but only the biggest stars can replicate them in the NHL. Marner, in recent years, is starting to show he should be judged as one of those talents.

For Domi however, he’s on a prove-yourself type deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, his seventh NHL team. His best NHL season was a 28 goal, 72 point year back in 2018-19 with Montreal.

Since then, he’s bounced around a fair bit but put up very decent numbers on the basement-dwelling Chicago Blackhawks this past season, certainly earning this latest contract.

You also have to wonder whether Max Domi was willing to sign this cheaper one-year deal with the promise of sharing the ice with some of the Toronto Maple Leafs elite forwards.

Perhaps the biggest question mark around placing Domi on the top line is how that affects the composition of the rest of the line-up, what with the other movements this summer.

Realistically, you’re not dropping Tyler Bertuzzi out of the top-six, so assuming he lands on the second line nominally with John Tavares and William Nylander, it’s Matthew Knies on the left wing of the third line.

This isn’t actually the worst placement of the rookie, though perhaps undervalued him a little especially when you realise he’s likely centred by David Kampf, who is hardly known for being offensively driven.

The propensity of Sheldon Keefe to juggle lines at times probably helps Knies somewhat. In fact, there’s every chance we see a Domi top line as well as a Knies and a Bertuzzi one at different points this season.

Of course, there’s every chance Domi is the third line guy and if that’s the case, the Leafs will be banking on fast chemistry with Kampf and likely Calle Jarnkrok. Training camp will be the time to see firsthand who has the best shot at top line ice time.

Mitch Marner has already shared his excitement to be reunited with his London Knights teammate – it will be very interesting to see whether their friendship extends to a successful on-ice partnership in Toronto Maple Leafs colours.