April 20: After their loss last night, the Blue Jackets will again scratch Domi in the rematch this evening. The only change, according to team reporter Jeff Svoboda, is Dean Kukan going in for Andrew Peeke. It appears as though the 26-year old Domi is firmly in the doghouse.
April 19: Players on the Columbus Blue Jackets have exactly ten games remaining to make a case for themselves heading into what could be a turbulent offseason. Well, at least most of them have ten games. As Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports, Max Domi won’t be in the lineup tonight for Columbus, as he joins Mikhail Grigorenko and Scott Harrington as the team’s healthy scratches. The 26-year-old forward has lost his head twice in the past three games, earning himself four minor penalties and two misconducts, though head coach John Tortorella wouldn’t explain why he was putting him in the press box tonight.
Domi was supposed to help answer the question at center for the Blue Jackets after the team acquired him in exchange for Josh Anderson in the offseason. It gave them a relatively young 1-2 punch when combined with Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was just coming into his own after an excellent postseason bubble. Now, just a few months into the season, Dubois is in Winnipeg and Domi is watching as a scratch. The Blue Jackets have come undone, losing their last five and selling off key pieces at the deadline, including captain Nick Foligno.
After a 2018-19 campaign that saw Domi record 28 goals and 72 points, it appeared as though he was back on top as one of the up-and-coming talents in the NHL. His offensive skill combined with a feisty, physical nature, made him an uncommon player in today’s NHL. Though his 44-point 2019-20 campaign can’t be called a complete disaster, it certainly wasn’t the same level, leading the Canadiens to trade him in the offseason as a restricted free agent. The Blue Jackets signed him to a two-year, $10.6MM deal, one which will carry a $6MM salary next season.
After that, Domi will hit unrestricted free agency, which means this summer he will be considered a trade candidate once again. Seven goals and 19 points through 44 games isn’t good enough for a player making that kind of salary, and Tortorella has never seemed completely comfortable with him in the middle of the ice. In fact, after averaging more than 17 minutes a night in each of his two seasons with Montreal, Domi has eclipsed that mark just nine times this year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Torts wearing thin with the team as stars either get traded or fade away. Sounds about right.
Weak minded players do not do well under Torts, but real players excel as he hold everyone accountable. Columbus just did not have enough to compete with the big boys. Domi is a flaccid wanker.
Torts’ time has expired. His coaching style worked 10-15 years ago. Time to get with the times. Don’t know how Domi isn’t a “real” player, he’s obviously good enough for the nhl. Theres a reason no one fits in in Columbus.
I’m a Blue Jackets fan and full season ticket holder. I was there last Monday when Domi received a 10 minute misconduct, plus a double minor in a 4-3 loss to Chicago. Domi’s penalties drastically changed the momentum in the game, and in my opinion was a major reason for the loss. He received another 10 minute misconduct Saturday night against Dallas, although by that time, the game was out of reach. I’d say he’s getting a night off to think about his “misconducts”. As far as the Domi for Anderson trade is concerned, form a scoring standpoint, it’s a wash as Anderson has 22 points to Domi’s 19. The Jackets have missed Anderson’s big body presence in their penalty kill. Having said that, Anderson missed three quarters of the season last year anyway, so they ought to be used to him not being around. Neither team wins this trade as Domi isn’t long for Columbus and Anderson will never stay healthy.
I disagree. Anderson has stayed healthy this year I don’t think it’s a fluke. I still think MTL goes out on top as sad to say it looks like Domi has been in decline the last few years whereas Anderson still looks to be a budding power forward. I hope domi turns things around I like the kid. My thoughts anyways.
Anderson’s contract is terrible for a guy who had 3pts and shoulder surgery. Let’s see once the short season is over how well it holds up
At the end of the day, the Domi DNA directs you to the penalty box. Without fail.
@Gavin – “Maxi Domi” (I might have caught this sooner, but I was shaking my head at the possibility of CBJ players storming Jarmo’s office for a new episode of “Mutiny on The Bounty”)
Guess it wasn’t embarrassing for Murphy now huh, Max? Lol
$6m next year! Ouch. Hopefully for Jarmo’s sake the new coach can get something out of him other than PIMs