The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Max Domi to a one-year, $3-million contract, adding depth to their roster for the 2023-24 season. Domi, 28, had an impressive 2022-23 season, scoring 20 goals and accumulating 56 points in 80 regular-season games split between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Dallas Stars.
🖊 We’ve signed forward Max Domi to a one-year contract
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 3, 2023
The Winnipeg-born player is the son of Tie Domi, a former Maple Leafs enforcer and fan favorite who played for the team from 1995 to 2006. Max Domi expressed his excitement about joining the Leafs by tweeting “Home,” accompanied by a blue heart emoji and a photo of Tie holding him at his locker draped in a Maple Leafs jersey.
Home 💙 pic.twitter.com/xDLVtXkyKv
— Max Domi (@maxdomi) July 3, 2023
Domi’s signing with the Leafs marks his seventh NHL team after stints with the Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Stars. In 581 career games, Domi has recorded 121 goals and 249 assists.
The Maple Leafs have been active in free agency, recently signing winger Ryan Reaves to a three-year deal. Reaves, known for his grit and physical play, will bring a new dynamic to the team. The Leafs also added forward depth in Dylan Gambrell and made other key signings, including Tyler Bertuzzi and John Klingberg.
Bertuzzi-Matthews-Marner
Domi-Tavares-Nylander
Knies–Kampf-JarnkrokIs that the most dangerous Toronto's Top-9 has been with this core? pic.twitter.com/UORavfiAMx
— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) July 3, 2023
The signing of Max Domi has led to rumors about William Nylander’s future with the Maple Leafs. Nylander, who has been a key player for the team, has been the subject of trade rumors in recent months. It remains to be seen how the team will handle Nylander’s contract situation, but the signing of Domi is a step in the right direction for the Leafs as they look to build a competitive team for the upcoming season.
Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving commented on the signing, stating, “Max is a versatile forward who can play both center and wing. His speed, skill, and tenacity will be a great addition to our lineup. We believe he will be a valuable asset to our team as we continue to build towards our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”
Domi’s signing has been met with mixed reactions from fans and analysts. Some argue that the Leafs are taking a risk by signing a player who has bounced around the league in recent years. However, others believe that Domi’s skill set and potential upside make him a worthwhile addition to the team.
Considering Tie Domi is regarded as one of the best NHL fighters of all time and a fan favorite in Toronto, his son is sure to be a crowd-pleaser even if he doesn’t completely live up to expectations from a production standpoint.
In any case, the Maple Leafs have made it clear that they are committed to building a competitive roster for the upcoming season. With the addition of Max Domi, the team has taken another step towards achieving its goal of bringing a championship to Toronto.