Craig Berube just sent Max Domi his loudest message yet
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
Craig Berube addressed his decision to scratch Max Domi on Friday night, and said he was still evaluating whether Domi would return to the lineup on Saturday.
It's one step forward and two steps back for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They were coming off a gritty 2-1 OT victory against Columbus and were poised to make it two wins in a row against Washington.
But after watching a two-goal lead slip away, the team fell victim to a loss yet again as serious concerns are starting to be raised about the structure of the team.
Craig Berube continues to work with a lineup that has been inconsistent, and the results reflect that, and he's got a lot of work to do if he wants to turn things around.
The head coach knows that he needs to do something and it's going to have to be with the lineup for now -- specifically who needs to be taken out.
Inside Craig Berube's explanation for scratching Max Domi
Speaking to reporters after Friday's loss to the Capitals, Berube singled out Max Domi as a player who he needed to sit to give him a reset
I gotta look at the lineup, what I think is best for tonight and that's part of it. And then I just want to talk to him about getting a reset and we'll see about tomorrow if we get him back in.
Berube's comments were made during his post-game availability on Friday.
It was a direct call-out from Berube, and the decision highlights how the staff is looking for more consistency from Domi.
Domi's inconsistency and defensive lapses have drawn a lot of fan criticism, and his recent production has added to the scrutiny around his role with each inconsistent game causing more frustration.
Having gone pointless in his last six games, and only two points over his last 11 games, there's something wrong with Domi right now but we can't seem to nail down exactly what.
How this reset changes Max Domi's place in the Maple Leafs' plans
Well with him out of the lineup, it gave way to Matias Macceli who needed a strong game to solidify his spot in the lineup but he did not make a significant impact in the loss to Washington at all.
Right now, Toronto doesn't have a lot of injury concerns up front and it's the unfortunate circumstance that Craig Berube has been given a lineup that was thought of as deeper, but has yet to show it.
Saturday night is going to be a tough game against Pittsburgh, and even a one game reset for Domi may not be enough. It's not as if he's been on a tear and then hit a slump. This is a consistent level of mediocrity that Toronto can't afford.
While the stars are doing their part, it's up to the rest of the team to follow suit.
Domi has over 750 NHL games of experience, but his play lately raises questions about how he fits into Toronto's plans moving forward.
So it might be time to think about how the future looks without Domi in the lineup not only this year, but going forward into later seasons.
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