3 Players Toronto Maple Leafs Should Not Re-Sign in Free Agency

No. 1: Max Domi

I hate saying this because I like Domi and have been a fan of his for years, but if his last name wasn't Domi, would we really be valuing him the same way?

Domi finished the campaign with nine goals and 47 points, which is a respectable season, but we can do better.

The Leafs won Domi's minutes handily when he was on the ice, but they only played to a 50.62% Xgoals rating. This despite starting 60% of his shifts in the offensive zone and playing some very sheltered minutes for most of the season before Keefe put him with Matthews.

Another problem with Domi is that since he's so bad defensively, he makes it very hard for a coach to build a balanced lineup. If he can't play in the top-six (and for the vast majority of his career he has not been an effective top-six player) then he makes it so your third line absolutely cannot be a checking line in any way, shape or form.

A pass-only offensive winger who can't defend is just not easy to fit into the lineup, even if he is great at skating and passing, and is also a fairly feisty player.

Domi was brought to Toronto for the playoffs. His energy and demeanor was supposed to help lift this team to the Second Round, but instead, nothing changed. His stats for the seven game series against Boston are not bad, (4 points, 51% xG) but he took two very costly penalties, had a chance to step up and didn't.

He had some good sparring matches with Brad Marchand throughout the seven games, but ultimately, it was Marchand with the last laugh. Not only that, but Domi continued to cost this team throughout the series, as he always looked pass-first.

He had a few opportunities to shoot the puck and score, yet he always looked for the pass, ultimately finishing the series with one goal and three assists.

At $3M, for one season, Domi was worth the contract. He provided a fun storyline for the Leafs and I think a lot of fans thought he would shine in the playoffs. However, since nothing changed and Domi didn't perform to the degree that we hoped, I think it's time to move on. His last name is a distraction in Toronto and the team can find a cheaper alternative for third-line centre next year.