Another day comes and another press release comes from the Toronto Maple Leafs stating a player is headed to the injured reserve list (IR).
This time, Wednesday morning ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights contest, Max Domi has been placed on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.
Domi has yet to score in any of the 19 games he has played this year while adding just six assists. He hasn't scored a point in 13 games, and other teams are crushing the Leafs when he's on the ice. Domi has a 45% Corsi, 43% shots-for rating, and a 47% Expected Goals Rating. Not good.
Domi also went 22 games in his first year before he potted a goal, but this year he looked noticeably weaker than at any point during the 2023-24 season. Domi had missed a handful of practices this past week, and he is being forced to play centre even though the Leafs re-signed him to play wing, but there really is no excuse for his slow start to the season.
There were high hopes for Domi this season after finishing last year with 22 points in his final 28 games, along with four points in the seven game playoff series loss to the Boston Bruins that earned him a four-year deal at $3.75 million per season.(stats naturalstattrick.com).
Nikita Grebenkin has shined at each professional level
In response to Domi being placed on the injured list, the Maple Leafs have recalled prospect Nikita Grebenkin from the Toronto Marlies. The 21-year old came over to North America after winning the Gagarin Cup with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the KHL last year as league champions. Grebenkin had scored 19-goals and 41-points in 67 games in the KHL last year.
The 2022 fifth round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs turned coach and managements heads during training camp with his tenacity in his game which extended his opportunity. Grebenkin ultimately started the season with the Toronto Marlies and currently sits second to Alex Steeves in points with ten through 13 games.
Domi will join Auston Matthews and David Kämpf on the injured reserve list, while Calle Järnkrok and Max Pacioretty are both currently on the long term injured reserve list (LTIR). Domi will be placed on IR retroactive to November 16, and like Matthews and Kämpf is eligible to be activated for their game on Sunday, though that doesn't mean they'll be back then.
At the time of writing it is unclear who will be playing center in the top six, but reports came out on Tuesday that Craig Berube has had discussions with Mitch Marner about playing up the middle.