Insider update renews focus on Max Domi's role at center for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed in a new update that Vancouver is look to acquire a center, which has put a spotlight on Max Domi's role with the Maple Leafs.
The Vancouver Canucks are currently dealing with a long list of injuries that includes key players like Filip Chytil, Teddy Blueger, and Nils Hoglander which has contributed to their 7th place spot in the Pacific Division Standings.
That has led to the team pursuing a trade to give them some insurance, and NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed as much in his latest report.
What Elliotte Friedman reported about Vancouver's search for a center
Speaking on the Donnie and Dhali podcast, Friedman noted that although the situation has been repeated over and over, the Canucks are still searching for a center:
We're gonna repeat this until it happens but they continue to look for a center.
Currently, the team has Elias Pettersson, Lukas Reichel, Aatu Raty, and Max Sasson as their four pivots according to Daily Faceoff.
The team just acquired Reichel from the Blackhawks earlier this season, and he's struggled early on, with only one assist in nine games since being traded.
Only Pettersson is truly driving the offense up the middle, and the Canucks have to add more playmaking to their lineup as they only have 75 assists total as a team.
How the update relates to Max Domi's role in Toronto
That brings the discussion to Max Domi, a player who has not been able to secure a consistent role in the lineup.
Domi has five points in 16 games (3 goals, 2 assists) while also registering a minus-10 rating, and during his time in Toronto has 85 points in 170 games (20 goals, 65 assists); he's also making $3.75-million until 2028.
Often bouncing around between the third and fourth lines, Domi's struggles have led the team to adjust their lineup on a constant basis, and he doesn't have a defined role.
The team has had to use him as a center while Scott Laughton is injured, although once he returns, Domi won't be afforded the same opportunities, and that makes a defined role even harder to come by.
Circling back to Friedman's report, the Canucks are in need of a center, and Domi offers the NHL experience and skillset they're searching for.
With the Maple Leafs looking to clear out some space not only on their roster, but their salary cap, trading Domi to a team who needs him is a logical solution.
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