Tie Domi's name now surfacing for a Toronto role is either brilliant or the most Leafs thing ever
Photo credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images
Tie Domi could come in as part of the culture change with the toughest Leaf in history helping out for sure, or it could be the most Toronto decision ever.
With all the talk about Mats Sundin and Gary Roberts coming into the fold, it sounds like the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to bring back the nostalgia as part of the way to not only win back fans, but also give them people who deeply care about the team.
There isn't really any evidence that Toronto is going to hire either Sundin or Roberts however both would add a great level of respectability and accountability to a front office that has sorely lacked it.
But with the team needing to find themselves a little tougher, it might be in their best interest to add the toughest and feistiest player in franchise history — Tie Domi.
Why adding Tie Domi is a great thing for the Toronto Maple Leafs
He would be a commanding presence despite his smaller stature, and with his son Max already being on the team, it feels like a no brainer. And the Maple Leafs might be ready to bring him aboard.
That's what David Pagnotta thinks, as he brought up Domi's name as another former Maple Leaf who could be trading the blue and white jersey for a business suit:
It seems like they are doing more interviews today, maybe a decision gets made at the end of the day...we know about Sundin; he and Pelley had dinner on Sunday.
Wouldn't surprise me if more former Leafs potentially come in on the front office side, start to hear Tie Domi's name bandied about as someone who could join Sundin, we heard Roberts; we are getting to the finish line now.
Wouldn't surprise me if more former Leafs potentially come in on the front office side, start to hear Tie Domi's name bandied about as someone who could join Sundin, we heard Roberts; we are getting to the finish line now.
Look, when you add someone who has over 2,200 penalty minutes alone with the Maple Leafs; you're not just adding anyone here. He's someone who knows what true passion means and if there was anyone who stood up for the crest — it was Domi.
From fighting Zdeno Chara to squirting water in a fan's face in Philadelphia, it was always about doing whatever it takes to get under the skin and give Toronto any advantage they could.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/d/domiti01.html, 56, played 777 games with the Maple Leafs while posting 196 points (84 goals, 112 assists), 2,265 PIM, and a minus-32 from 1989-2006.
You need someone who is so beloved by the team that whenever he's in the building he gets a hero's welcome. You wanna change the culture? This is the most effective way to do it.
Though we can't really be sure given Domi is fresh as a daisy
However there is one glaring caveat we need to look at which is his lack of any front office, or development experience.
He has one season as an assistant coach with the Don Mills Flyers AAA U16 team but otherwise has never done anything in hockey since retiring as a player.
There's first time executives who may have been in smaller roles but get bumped up; then there's people with absolutely no experience. While there's a great advantage for adding in a first-timer knowing that they are highly motivated to make change; they have to rely on others to do it.
Without knowing how the inner workings go within an organization, it could lead to a lot of mistaken signings and dud deals that put Toronto in either a worse position than they are now, or stuck spinning their wheels with this group.
Sure, a name like Chris Pronger is new to the GM role but also spent a few years as part of the Panthers front office. It's taking an even bigger risk adding Domi; who has no other background than playing — it's a recipe for disaster.
So if Tie Domi were to come in, it certainly could give the Maple Leafs the jolt they need. But only if he does so without touching a roster he wouldn't even know where to start with.
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