Max Domi will be Traded
It seems quite weird to put Max Domi in the category of being a candidate to be traded at the deadline. After all, wasn’t he one of the Leafs biggest signings this past offseason when they re-signed him to a four-year, $15 million contract to become an integral part of their lineup long-term? His strong finish from his 2023-24 season with the Leafs certainly looked convincing and boded well for the 29-year-old going forward.
However, a prolonged period of constant struggles and ineffectiveness would trouble Domi throughout the current 2024-25 season, as he has somehow failed to get into any scoring groove at all. In 49 total games, the 10-year veteran has recorded only 3 goals and 19 assists for 22 points and is on pace for his lowest output since the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
Just for comparison’s sake, Tyler Bertuzzi, who the Leafs let walk to free agency in favor of re-signing Domi, has managed to put up 17 goals and 13 assists for a solid 30 total points in 57 games with an offense-deprived Chicago Blackhawks team.
At the current rate if Domi keeps at his current pace, he most certainly wouldn’t be an attractive trade target for any prospective team at the deadline. That is because for one, a contending team wouldn’t want to add an underachieving player that can’t help the team right away. For two, a non-contending team would rather want a promising prospect or high draft pick instead to help with their rebuild and future outlook for the team.
Nevertheless, if the Leafs manage to attach an attractive sweetener in the form of a prospect or draft pick as part of the package, Domi could actually end up being moved at the deadline to open up massive cap space for Toronto to make a major impactful addition.