It's safe to say that Max Domi's time with the Maple Leafs is coming to a end as there's no new update with no room left on the roster for him.
With all the talk about the Maple Leafs' various injuries this season, one that isn't talked about too much is Max Domi's. After suffering complications from offseason surgery, he was determined to be out indefinitely and there's no time frame on his return.
Toronto added a slew of new faces in order to replace the hole he left in the lineup and right now, it feels like they are a cohesive unit with purpose as opposed to a mishmash of players thrown together.
Maple Leafs have to move on from the Max Domi experiment
But with those additions, a need for cap space, Domi's indefinite stay on the LTIR and declining production the past few years - the writing is on the wall and it's time to move on.
Right now there has been zero information when it comes to Domi's status and whether he will or won't play this year. We don't know the exact pinpointed reason as to why Domi's surgery had complications, but they were serious enough to question his career as a whole.
He also has no real opening on the roster as it stands. Toronto isn't going to need him to play centre, they have enough help on both power-play units, Auston Matthews has a familiar face already beside him, and you're pushing someone out who may not deserve it.
Toronto needs financial help more than they need Domi
You aren't going to throw Domi on the top line right away even if he does end up playing, and you're risking ruining any chemistry previously built up. Right now, he's doing a lot by giving Toronto cap relief, and it should continue that way in some shape or form.
It's going to be hard to find a team willing to take on his $3.75M contract, though he could be used as an asset for a team struggling to get to the cap floor. He's likely not going to play, so if there's no team interested then just put him on season-ending LTIR.
That gives you the flexibility knowing that he isn't coming back, and given he has one year left, the team can see if a buyout is possible or put him on waivers for the purposes of termination.
Whatever the case, the team needs the financial help more than they need Domi in the lineup whether it be in net, on defense or even up front.
There's no spot for him anymore, and it's truly an unfortunate end to a player whose name holds a lot of weight in Toronto.
Has Max Domi's time with the Maple Leafs come to an end?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs have found their replacement for Oliver Ekman-Larsson