When the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the signing of Max Domi, the fanbase was met with a blast from the past as Domi’s father Tie played for the Leafs decades prior to his sons signing with the club.
Toronto Maple Leafs fans knew what they were getting with the 28-year-old forward, grit, aggression, and tenacity. A player who does not give up and one who doesn’t mind dropping the gloves here and there.
However, at the start of the 2023-24 season, Domi did not look like his usual self. Granted, when you first sign with a new team, it may take a while to get use to the team as well as the coaches style.
Domi was bounced around the lineup, but really had a fantastic performance in Toronto’s comeback win over the Lightning in Tampa back on October 21st, putting up two points, both assists on goals scored by Matthew Knies.
Max Domi Finding His Game With the Toronto Maple Leafs
But recently, it seems as though Domi is really starting to find his form on that third line being paired with Calle Jarnkrok and recently called up, Nick Robertson.
In the Leafs defeat to the Ottawa Senators on November 8th, Domi gave Robertson a beautiful saucer pass that would make the game 3-3.
It is clear that there is chemistry between the two players and having a player like Jarnkrok is a great piece to help the Leafs have an established, talented third line moving forward.
Although the team has been struggling as of late, I wouldn’t be too concerned about goals coming from players other than the core four.
For the first time this season, we are seeing the depth pieces having an impact on the game. Domi was signed to be a complimentary piece to an already loaded up forward group and it appears as if Brad Treliving’s belief in Domi is starting to work out well.
I never like how fans jump on players calling them out this early in the season, but for a fanbase as passionate and inpatient as Leafs Nation is, it’s to be expected in a market as big as Toronto.
Personally, the defense is a bit of an issue because you can not be allowing 4 plus goals in every home game for the rest of the season, but that will get figured out as the season moves along just like the early season struggles of Max Domi have slowly but surely worked out for the Leafs.
It’s way to early in the season to be worrying about any players struggling but at least for now, it appears that the “struggles” of Max Domi have been put to rest.