The Blue Jackets don’t have much in the way of impact center depth and it has been an area that they have been trying to address for several years now. Last summer, they picked up Max Domi from Montreal in a trade for Josh Anderson to try to help that issue but he had a tough year. Now, TSN’s Darren Dreger is reporting (Twitter link) that Columbus is leaning towards leaving Domi unprotected on their expansion list which is due to the league later today.
The 26-year-old struggled considerably last season, posting just nine goals and 15 assists in 54 games, hardly the type of production they were expecting considering he had at least 38 points in his previous five NHL campaigns. Along the way, he went from playing down the middle to being shifted back to the wing and was dropped down the depth chart as the season progressed.
To make matters worse, Domi underwent shoulder surgery last month to repair a torn labrum. The expected recovery time for that procedure is five to six months which means he will miss at least the first month of next season and potentially more. Perhaps it’s for that reason that GM Jarmo Kekalainen is considering the possibility of leaving him exposed. However, he’s also owed $6MM in salary for the upcoming season which could also serve as a deterrent although Dreger believes Domi would likely be selected by the Kraken.
[Related: Blue Jackets Expansion Draft Primer]
At any rate, it certainly doesn’t appear as if Domi will be in the long-term plans for the Blue Jackets and he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer which makes him a trade candidate as a rental by either Columbus or Seattle if they do indeed select him. At any rate, Kekalainen’s search for impact centers is sure to continue.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
this team will never learn…
Learn what? The player undelivered.
yeah and he’ll do better next year and they will be kicking themselves. same thing will happen when they jettison Laine for nothing.
They gave up picks to get Vegas to pick Karlsson instead of Anderson, then traded Anderson for Domi, whom they’re now considering giving away with only a 3rd to show for it.
I agree so foolish to let him go for nothing..they have lots invested give him a shot to come back and play how Domi has shown he can play. It’s not like Columbus has anyone that should be protected over domi. Surgery, New coach new season I bet Domi comes back nicely when he’s healed.
The whole team underachieved. They don’t have 7 forwards better than Domi.
No chance Seattle takes him. Dreger has real difficulties properly evaluating the type of players Seattle will take.
Disagree. He has a decent career and one outstanding season. He heals up and in a fresh scene I bet he thrives. My thoughts anyhow.
What?! Who are you, Ron Francis?
Wish he’d head to Toronto where he belongs. For legacy reasons. And the Tkachzuk kids need to go to the Avalanche or Coyotes ….
View it as currency – Domi at least nets you a high pick and a prospect when you flip him.
Columbus’s other options (Robinson, Stenlund) net you a late rounder.
Even at his worse, Domi outplays the other options. His cap number is insignificant. (Seattle would have ample cap space if they were forced to eat salary to facilitate a trade.)
If exposed, Domi would be found money for Seattle, even if he never suits up for them.
CBJ fans are already running straight to the doom on an unconfirmed rumor that, even if true, doesn’t mean Domi is gone. “Oh good heavens! We lost Josh for nothing!” as they clutch pearls and curse Jarmo.
Is nobody willing to wait and see:
1) if Domi is left unprotected
2) if Jarmo and Ron Francis have any agreements in the works
3) if Seattle even wants a guy who will miss 25-50% of the season and then be a UFA?
How dare you invade this thread with your common sense?! Lol
My guess is Seattle passes on him, even if he wasn’t scheduled to miss the first couple months of the season. What a one-sided trade for Montreal. Domi had fallen out of favor there, like he is now in Columbus.