Throughout the 2024-25 season, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have been asking, what exactly does Max Domi bring to this team? He can skate well and racks up assists, but he doesn't kill penalties, he rarely plays in the top six, and he's not reliable in his own zone. How exactly does he fit in the lineup?
After a strong end to last season where he thrived with Auston Matthews on the wing, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to re-sign Domi to a four-year, $3.75 AAV contract, opting to keep Domi and let Tyler Bertuzzi walk, which many fans were upset about, but which made sense based on Domi's success with Matthews.
But new Coach Craig Berube didn't have much time for that idea, and he almost immediately put Domi back at centre. Domi had a rough start to the year, failing to score a goal until December for the second year in a row.
Domi has turned it around recently and has had his best stretch of play this season over his last few games, just in time for the playoffs, but his season has been horrendous. Domi has only 20 5v5 points this season, which is good for just 9th on the Leafs on a per-minute basis. Most of his on-ice stats are underwater, and while the Leafs have won his minutes (which is great) to do so they have had to shelter Domi and feed him offensive zone starts that would otherwise be going to Marner and Matthews, which hurts the team overall.
Max Domi turning season around for Toronto Maple Leafs
A Rough Start to the Year:
Domi has 28 points in 59 games this season, on pace for just under 40 on the year. This is not terrible, but not good enough for a guy making $3.75 for the next three years after this one. Domi realistically should be scoring 45+ points a season, especially considering he put up 47 last season at a cheaper salary.
On top of this Domi has scored a measly six goals this season, and up until the beginning of March, he only had three, all of which came in a three-game span in December.
That is not good enough at all, however, his recent stretch of play has not only doubled his season goal total.
Finding His Role:
Domi has since turned his season around and filled a key role on this team, a physical, third-line center with an edge and who provides secondary scoring. Unfortunately, he shouldn't be deployed at centre-ice because in order for him to be effective in this role, the cost is too high for the Leafs.
Berube revisited Domi on the wing last Saturday, and though it didn't last, I would expect the Leafs to revisit that again, afterall they did trade quite a lot for Scott Laughton to play 3C.
With a goal and assist in Monday's game vs the Calgary Flames, Domi now has three goals and five points in his last eight games. Now, five points in eight games isn't anything too special, but it is a step in the right direction.
If Domi can keep his strong play from the last several games going, the Leafs are going to have a lot more options. It's doubtful that they can win in the playoffs with him at centre-ice, but it's not completely out of the question.
The important thing is that Max Domi is turning his season around.