His regular season debut won’t be affected, but Max Domi has been suspended for the remainder of the preseason schedule for his punch on Florida’s Aaron Ekblad last night. Montreal has five more games on the exhibition schedule, that they’ll have to play without their new first line center. As the accompanying video explains:
Domi spends a considerable amount of time attempting to force Ekblad into a fight, and Ekblad visibly refuses him multiple times. Ekblad ignores Domi as he throws multiple jabs with his gloves on, clearly showing restraint and declining to engage. Rather than skate away and accept that is opponent is an unwilling combatant, Domi drops his stick and glove and delivers a forceful, bare-knuckle punch to Ekblad’s face.
Domi will be allowed to practice with the team and actually does not forfeit any salary, but will be considered a repeat offender going forward. His NHL record will also now include a second suspension, which will lead to more harsh consequences should he ever be involved in an incident again. Still, the biggest loss for both Domi and the Montreal Canadiens at this point is likely any in-game chemistry that he would have built with his new teammates over the next few weeks as they’ll need to integrate someone else into the top line.
The 23-year old Domi needs a good offensive season to really establish himself as a core piece going forward for the Canadiens. Remember, he’s only signed through the 2019-20 season on his current deal and will need to start extension negotiations next summer. A return to the 18-goal, 52-point performance of his rookie campaign would be a good start, but even more important may be his play at center ice. If Domi can prove himself a capable option down the middle, he’ll hold even more leverage over the Canadiens in the summer of 2020. He’ll have to avoid incidents like this going forward if he’s to stay on the ice, but has escaped this time without missing any regular season action.
that’s bogus. should have cost him 2 or 3 real games.
Max Domi = overrated
Overrated? Nobody’s ever called him a star? Who exactly is “overrating” him?
The Habs are by making him their 1C.
Well who else are they supposed to put there? Go ahead. Tell me. I’ll wait. The truth is they have no depth at centre so they have no choice. That’s not overrating a player. That’s doing the best you can with what you have.
A struggling Drouin>Domi
Should be the entire preseason and like 3+ regular season games. No reason for him to do this to Ekblad. Great way to make a first impression on Habs fans MD.
This is absurd. Easily needs regular season games since this won’t teach him. The only way to even try to justify this is if the next one is a automatic 20 games.
20 games for punching someone in the face? You must not be familiar how hockey, it’s rules, or how it’s suspensions work.
like father like son..should get regular season game suspension not preseason. duh nhl
Should be more. Drouin’s attempted defense of Domi is even funnier (I’m all for backing your teammates, but there’s a difference between having your teammates’ back and sounding like an idiot). Regardless of what Ekblad might have been doing, it doesn’t warrant a sucker punch in the preseason when he clearly isn’t interested in fighting. I can’t wait for the first regular season matchup between these two teams. Somebody from Florida is going to go after Domi (and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they target Drouin or even Price with some extra physical play) and it likely won’t be pretty. I’m also looking forward to Drouin calling Florida’s inevitable retaliation as unwarranted.
This will sum up Domi’s entire career with the Canadians.
WAY better than 3rd overall Alex Galchenyuk. Good move!
This is how the NHL has been doing it and it’s beyond ridiculous. If Hue Jackson were in charge he would have to play the entire 60min of every preseason game as punishment
Next time Ekblad slash someone from behind, he’ll think twice. Domi can defend himself but he’s not a goon. There was something more than we know. He made his own justice. Florida is a much physical team than the smaller Habs, but the Habs stood up. All Ekblad had to do is to engage. Have you seen the size difference. If any Hab would have behaved like Ekblad, he would have been a pussy, but when it’s the other team’s yellow belly the Habs are not getting enough suspension. 5 pre-season games is enough, especially that an intelligent person would have known what was coming.
Just ask Guy Lafleur.
Not going to assume Jean Claude is a habs fan
Why should Ekblad engage Domi? The Panthers were getting a power play. He wasn’t going to jeopardize that. Ekblad also has a concussion history. He isn’t going to fight Domi in a pre-season game. The idea that Ekblad should’ve known the punch is coming is absurd. Nobody expects to be sucker punched & only cowards resort to that. If you want to retaliate for the slash & Ekblad won’t engage then, retaliate later. No need to sucker punch a guy.
Don’t think for a moment that Ekblad will forget.
Poor poor Claude….. guess this is what you get for chasing Kessell, Hamilton, Seguin (to some degree) and others away in Boston. That said, don’t hate Julie-ann, the guy is quite classy after all…. That said, love the Bruins NEW playing style with coach Cassidy, so much LESS BORING compared to other teams…. among them Montreal. ha ha
Sweet trading for M@nstrual this summer, namely Maxie P@ssretty and Alexa G’yuk for Max Domi and filler. Have to wonder if the C@ntadiens are trying to be relocated to the NWHL sooner than expected. That said, Domi’s already fitting in seamlessly with the culture of M@nstrual, namely goons, cheap shots, diving/turtle curls and overall cheating that they’re well known for…. and it’s JUST PRESEASON, LOL.
Anger management issues? Doesn’t this little guy have Type 1 Diabetes? Calm down, tiger.