07/03/23: Toronto has now made their signing of Domi official.
They’ve also added depth center Dylan Gambrell on a one-year, $775k one-way deal, per PuckPedia. Gambrell, a 2016 second-round pick, scored four goals and 10 points in 60 games for the Ottawa Senators last season.
07/02/23 8:40 PM: The Maple Leafs and Domi are closing in on a one-year contract worth $3MM, Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets and TSN reports (Twitter link). PuckPedia adds (Twitter link) that the deal will contain a 10-team no-trade clause. Friedman tweets that the deal may not be made official until Monday.
07/02/23 6:26 PM: After adding Tyler Bertuzzi earlier today to help shore up their top six, it appears that the Maple Leafs aren’t necessarily done with their summer spending. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Toronto and Max Domi are in discussions about a contract for next season.
Considering that the Maple Leafs are staring down the cost of two pricey extensions that will be kicking in next season (Auston Matthews and William Nylander, or perhaps Bertuzzi himself if talks with Nylander stall out), it seems likely that the team would want to keep any agreement with Domi limited to a single season which they have accomplished here. That would allow them to have as much flexibility as possible for those upcoming extensions.
The 28-year-old had to settle for a one-year contract last summer, inking a one-year, $3MM deal with Chicago. That proved to be a wise decision for Domi who was moved back to center and responded with his second-best offensive performance, putting up 18 goals and 31 assists in 60 games before being dealt to Dallas at the trade deadline. It took Domi a little while to settle in with his new club; he had just seven points in 20 games following the swap but was more productive for them in the playoffs, tallying 13 points in 19 games.
That was good enough to earn him the 11th ranking in our Top 50 UFA list last month with an expectation that he could finally land at least a medium-term agreement, something that has proven elusive for Domi lately. Since his entry-level contract expired back in 2018, Domi has signed three separate deals, none longer than two seasons while playing for five separate teams during that stretch. However, with this deal with the Maple Leafs, that streak of short-term contracts will continue.
In terms of where Domi might fit on Toronto’s depth chart, it seems like he could wind up taking the place of last year’s deadline acquisition Ryan O’Reilly, who inked a four-year contract with Nashville on Saturday. That could see him centering the third line at times or moving up onto the second line, either as a winger or pushing John Tavares to the wing. That type of versatility could certainly come in handy for the Maple Leafs while also giving Domi a chance to play in an offensive-minded environment in the hopes of bolstering his market for next summer when the salary cap is set to rise.
Fitting in a contract for Domi would appear to be tricky within Toronto’s current cap situation. Per CapFriendly, the Maple Leafs have less than $600K in remaining LTIR room, assuming that Jake Muzzin is out for all of next season as expected. That’s less than the league minimum salary and Domi will cost considerably more than that.
There’s also the matter of re-signing starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov who will be eyeing a considerable raise on the $1.8MM he made last season. Having him file for salary arbitration to trigger a second buyout window would allow them to buy out Matt Murray but the $4MM in savings is likely to be needed to afford Samsonov’s next contract. Accordingly, GM Brad Treliving is going to have to get creative to make the math work as he brings Domi into the fold to help bolster Toronto’s attack.
Of course they are, They have to fill out 4 lines with actual NHLers. Toronto’s plan is always throw it at the wall and see what sticks. Meanwhile the Mathews clock is ticking, By this time next summer he’ll be signed by a U.S. team.
Reaves, Bertuzzi, and Domi. As a Leaf hater I have to appreciate them for really going all in on annoying players who I can dislike.
it is what they were missing, though at least bertuzzi and Domi bring something else. Reaves was basically an overpaid Simmonds signing
Domi makes more sense to me financially if they are dealing Nylander given Samsonov will be at least 3 million.
Not a leafs fan but JT is really the 1 who needs to go IMO. Thats not going to happen so they need to figure out if Matthews is going to resign AND is that number really worth it. Up until this year I always said Nylander was the 1 who should go but he makes the least and i thought he did great these playoffs. Marner plays PP and PK is a great player so he should be the 1 who stays. All this depending on each persons number if Nylander wants 11 well its am easy decision for instance
except JT has a no movement clause and doubt he willing to waive it as he chose Toronto to play near home and for his childhood team. can’t see him changing that now.
have to agree with Karlander, a signing of Domi (even for a year) signifies something is brewing and it’s likely a Nylander move for a defensive defenseman and some cap room this year.
Thats what it seems like at this point. If they can’t resign Nylander, which at this point I don’t think they will be able to, You have to move him.
Islanders Pelech or Pulock for Nylander works. I don’t see Isles dealing Dobson.
Every year we have Leafs fans contending that the Leafs are signing everyone…..this may be their year! :D
Even with Muzzin’s LTIR, the Leafs are over the cap by about $2.5 million & that is with still having to sign Samsonov. They could buy out Murray if Samsonov files for salary arbiation, but that still won’t leave them with much wiggle room cap wise if they get injuries. If they don’t move someone out, they’ll be forced to play without a full lineup
Lajoie and Timmins are both counted against the cap right now so currently we have 8 dmen on the team so if you remove them the leafs are capped but with moves still to make
Kind of strange. I would of thought the Hawks would of offered him more money and years. At least the same money they offered AA. I guess they were happy with Hall, Foligno, Donato and Perry. Plus keeping 20 million in cap space for more moves. Although I would think that the taking on dead money for draft picks stage should be about over and the acquiring of new blood should begin. How many draft picks do you need? They’re stocked through 2026.
why didn’t Dallas resign him instead of Duchene? same amount of money and was all they could hope for in the playoffs. anyways, I would’ve resigned him and thought he did a great job in the playoffs. it seemed like a good fit to me
Also true. Duchene is a complete maybe as to when or even if he can return. They said they couldn’t afford Domi and then gave the same money to a medical mystery. GM’s never cease to confuse me.
His Dad played for Toronto. Maybe Max took a deal to play there he wouldn’t have taken other places. Maybe Dallas didn’t believe he would sign a 1-year contract.
I kind of doubt his ties to Toronto because of his dad are all that strong. Not to the point he would of turned down more money from someone else. Money talks and sentiment walks today.
Duchene is like 4x the player compared to Domi.
You don’t think Max grew up a Leaf’s fan, and spent lots of time in Toronto? That’s hard to believe.
I didn’t say he turned down big money, but he also wouldn’t be the first player to take less money to go somewhere he wants to be.
Weird how the market is dead for certain guys. Domi was predicted to a 5×5 and he gets this? Matt Duchene at 3 million was ridiculously cheap too
These guys must be ring chasing this year and then want to re-enter the market next offseason when there’s an actual cap increase. I’m sure they could have got a Zucker deal on a worse team but gave a discount to play on a contender.
Streak continued. Never signed for longer than 2 years since his ELC expired.
Can this year get any worse. They had the chance to trade Matthew’s and build a contender, but blew it. After 63 years it’s time to move on to Ottawa where it seems common sense is being used.
If Matthews is going to resign (reports indicate he will) then you don’t move him. #1 centres don’t grow on trees. This signing along with the Bertuzzi signing are good moves for the Leafs. Gives this core support it’s been lacking.
They will have to make a move to get cap compliant though. Nylander getting traded? I’d love for Detroit to be all over that
Keeps changing teams, must be a helluva teammate… :/