The depth centre the Maple Leafs let walk is outplaying Max Domi at 5-on-5
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs chose not to bring Pontus Holmberg back this summer, and he signed a one-year deal with the rival Tampa Bay Lightning instead -- was it a mistake?
This past offseason was critical in the Maple Leafs trying to implement a new identity for their roster.
Out were names like Mitch Marner and Ryan Reaves and in came the likes of Nic Roy, Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua -- all part of the team's plan to be nastier and tougher to play against.
However one player who left the team and slipped under the radar is forward Pontus Holmberg, who signed a one-year deal with the rival Tampa Bay Lightning instead.
How Pontus Holmberg quietly did the job Max Domi is struggling with at 5-on-5
So far he has been solid, with five points in 15 games and helping Tampa to a 9-6-2 record.
There's some stats that show that perhaps the Maple Leafs made a mistake when it comes to letting Holmberg go. This season, Max Domi has been on the ice for 18 goals against at 5 on 5 out of 60 -- that's 30% of the opponent's goals this year.
In contrast, at 5-on-5, Holmberg was on the ice for 18 goals against in 68 games last season, and has only been on the ice for four so far this year in Tampa.
And for a cap-strapped team trying to squeeze value out of every depth spot, that kind of 5-on-5 gap actually matters.
For all the discussion about whether or not Holmberg fit into the Maple Leafs' plans, he's doing a much better job at preventing goals and keeping Tampa in the thick of things.
Holmberg also quietly helped on the penalty kill. Was he elite? No, but he was steady, controlled the puck, and limited dangerous chances.
While the Maple Leafs do tend to be a man down more often than not, the majority of the game is spent playing 5v5, and if Domi is going to continue to earn 13+ minutes a night then he needs to start playing better overall.
Why that comparison should make the Leafs rethink their depth and roster decisions
There should be priority given to improving the team regardless of potential hurt feelings. Domi, while beloved by fans and carrying name value because of his dad's legacy, isn't helping the team's chances enough right now.
He's also making $3.75-million for the next three seasons, meanwhile Holmberg earns only $1.55-million for two seasons.
If Max was able to score at a steady pace, contribute 40-45 points, and help generate offense on the second PP unit, then it can be forgiven when he slips up or makes a mental error.
But with six points in 19 games and a minus-10 rating, he's not doing much to suggest he deserves to stay in the lineup. Even a game or two to reset his focus would be beneficial.
It may also give Brad Treliving pause as to what he needs to add. A top-six forward or top-four defenseman is great, but when your bottom-six players like Domi are causing more than their fair share of headaches -- that's also a problem needing to be solved.
The other downside is that Domi's trade value plummeted since last year, but may be a suitable trade piece for San Jose; something I touched on here.
With all the numbers showing that Max Domi's effectiveness at 5v5 is practically non-existent and Holmberg thriving in a new environment, it's getting harder to argue that keeping Max Domi over Pontus Holmberg was the right call, at least at 5-on-5.
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