The Toronto Maple Leafs got Max Domi signed to a four-year contract a day before the 2024 free agent frenzy begins and it could not have gone any better for all parties involved.
Max Domi remains a Leaf for the next four seasons pic.twitter.com/AV2NBoKmjz
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) June 30, 2024
There were certainly some concerns that this deal would not get done, especially in recent weeks with rumours swirling around the Leafs’ plans to shore up the back end. But it was clear from the start of his tenure that Domi wanted to extend his stay in Toronto for as long as possible and now he has it.
With Domi locked in at $3.75M, PuckPedia now has the Leafs with just under $16 million in cap space before they make any other moves.
Not only does he get the security he has longed for but he is signed to an AAV that general manager Brad Treliving is certainly happy with. This leaves him with plenty of room to get Chris Tanev signed to a deal that everyone can work with while also having enough room left to potentially extend Tyler Bertuzzi, bringing another blue liner, and a goalie in free agency.
One area that has been a point of contention over the years has been the persistent turnover of the bottom half of the lineup while not trying to maintain continuity surrounding the core. This extension helps solve that problem while also keeping a player who wants to be here and developed great on-ice chemistry with Auston Matthews. Of course, this doesn’t mean a Stanley Cup is guaranteed but it sure helps to have some stability in areas outside of the core four.
Every player has his flaws and Domi is no different. He is far from the stalwart centre that the Leafs still need for their middle-six and his defensive game leaves much to be desired. His playmaking style is certainly an area of strength but you won’t be seeing him bury the biscuit very much. And he won’t bring much value to the special teams if he’s not on the power play.
But at the end of the day, it makes too much sense to keep Domi around for the next four years. He has been one of the few players that have embraced all that comes with being a Leaf and it’s not hard to see why he quickly became so beloved by the fanbase (apart from being the son of Tie Domi). And with his blue-collar playstyle, he is one that Craig Berube will enjoy coaching.
Suffice it to say that Domi’s extension is a fair value for everyone.
Leafs Nation… I have a PSA. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/3puE5Jo5mW
— Max Domi (@maxdomi) June 30, 2024
