Montreal traded Brendan Gallagher to the Vancouver Canucks to get him home and move off his deal (partially) and it gives Toronto a way to do it with Max Domi.
On Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens finally fulfilled their promise of helping get Brendan Gallagher a trade somewhere he wants, and it turns out it's the best place it can be. The team is sending Gallagher to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for future considerations:
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We know that future considerations can be a tricky thing as the Maple Leafs are still unsure of what they are going to be getting for the first time they traded Dakota Joshua - the future is certainly endless at times.
But this was a move that was meant more to give Gallagher a chance to be close to home and help mentor a young team who is in a rebuilding phase.
Montreal did Brendan Gallagher a favour and Toronto can do the same for Max Domi
Montreal retaining 50% of his salary too was also a sign that the team was not concerned with getting the best deal for them, but the best possible situation for him as they felt he deserved it after being a staunch leader and beloved roster member for over a decade.
It was a situation that worked out for both parties, but it also helped give the Toronto Maple Leafs a chance to trade away one of their own veterans who may be better off mentoring some younger players elsewhere: Max Domi.
Domi, currently out for an undefined period of time due to complications from back surgery, the son of Maple Leafs legend Tie Domi has been a mixed bag since coming over.
After a great debut season where he had 47 points, 118 PIM and a plus-10 he's regressed since extending in Toronto, and has only 69 points in the 154 games since.
Max Domi's no longer a part of the Maple Leafs plans especially after his injury
He's often subject to trade speculation, he's been benched multiple times the past two seasons, and now his injury concerns are through the roof. He's also making $3.75-million and that money is better off used elsewhere.
Toronto could deal Domi away for future considerations like Montreal did, though it would be likely that John Chayka would want some late draft picks or low-tier prospect to get it done. Either way, he's going to have to retain some money but $1.875-million isn't a huge cap hit especially when Toronto already has room & more deals to work through.
But with his back surgery complications as serious as they were (he was unable to walk briefly), that spells bad news for his career. He's being reevaluated at the start of the season and it's a play-by-ear situation. Toronto can't risk having him as a liability on the ice if he returns, and can't afford to keep him.
They help on LTIR will be great later on down the line, but we don't know how else the season will turn out and whether or not that money is going to matter in the end. They'll have capital to compete, but it's whether they are competitive is another thing.
Domi was born in Winnipeg, so perhaps a move out to the Jets would be a solid option. They have more than enough space for him, and with an already veteran presence but some young guns needing a veteran voice - Domi makes sense.
Max Domi's name will forever be linked to the Maple Leafs not only as a player but due to his father's iconic career, but when it comes to competing it's time to break that chain and let Domi go somewhere else because he doesn't really have a place anymore.
What is the best course of action for the Maple Leafs?
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