Max-imum Domi-nation
The Habs were the butt of many a joke the past offseason. There was a segment of the media, and even fanbase, that believed Bergevin to be the worst of all GM’s in the NHL after trading high profile players Alex Galchenyuk and Max Pacioretty.
The trade of Galchenyuk for Max Domi was met with a high degree of vitriol as many, incorrectly, presumed that Max Domi paled in comparison to Alex Galchenyuk and the Habs were fleeced. Of course, stats showed that they had near identical PPG totals and there wasn’t a Habs fan around that could say with a straight face that Galchenyuk played harder than the Canadian Junior star Domi.
But it took for games to be played before we would know for sure how this trade would play out as it looked pretty even on the surface to the more level headed and informed Habs fans.
Then the preseason suspension gave ammunition to those who hated the Domi trade as he lost virtually all of his preseason after giving A Ekblad a reminder that if you’re going to chop folks all game you better be prepared to answer for it. A Domi suspension derailed any excitement he could have built up, but a Galchenyuk injury (familiar story to us Habs fans) delayed his season start as well so we were all left waiting for Game 1 to see what the Habs had in Domi.
We saw right away with 2 assists on opening night that we had a gamer…. This kid plays with so much more emotion, tenacity, and smarts than we ever saw out of Alex Galchenyuk. Please don’t mistake this as a Galchenyuk hit job article, I was a big fan myself and had hoped we had the next Tyler Seguin type player. But, let’s be honest as well. Galchenyuk couldn’t hold a candle to the way Domi has played so far this season.
Not to say Galchenyuk has been bad for Arizona, in fact he is putting up points (2G, 4A, 8 GP, 0.75 PPG). He’s getting 15:42 TOI a game average with 2:33 TOI on the PP, it’s less on both accounts than he averaged last year in MTL, but good for him nonetheless.
By comparison, Max Domi has 9 goals and 12 assists in 17 games for 21 points. He’s averaging 17:17 TOI a game and 3:37 TOI on the PP, both totals higher than any of his seasons in ARI.
By comparison, there is no comparison… Max Domi has made this trade look like robbery for Marc Bergevin and Co. at the 17 game mark. Domi not only has been incredible, but he’s been a perfect Center for J Drouin. That’s right, everyone laughed at the thought of trying to make Domi a C (even though he was used at that position last year for an extended period in ARI). I wasn’t rolling with the media flow on that though as I wrote how he might end up being used at C after he was acquired. I have to say I was right on that as well and yes, I feel as confident about that as it reads.
So, Bergevin dealt a player that clearly cannot play C effectively at both ends of the rink and lacked any kind of toughness in his game for a player that has been the best C we have seen since Koivu at both ends of the ice. He’s producing at a better than a PPG pace and helping lead a resurgent, resilient, and young Canadiens squad this season.
His hockey smarts are probably the bigger difference between him and Galchenyuk. Galchenyuk always looked a bit lost and often thought he could deke anyone, which he couldn't. He would rarely flash that skill, mostly he was just pushed off the puck or lost the board battle and we would all let out a little, disappointed sigh…
Not with Domi though. Domi is a gamer. Domi makes his plays along the wall, in front of the net, all over really. He is a playmaker first but playing with a creative talent like Drouin has afforded Domi a chance to use his shot more and it has worked great.
I have my own little feeling about this here and I think this was a good trade for both players. To me, it seemed like Galchenyuk wilted under pressure. He would be involved in scrums but you could almost always see in his face that he hoped he didn’t have to do anything more than hold a jersey until the refs came in. He played scared of the opposition and the pressure of the market, IMO.
Domi is the exact opposite. He relishes the chance to play in a hockey mad market after growing up with the perks that came with being Tie Domi’s son and the meaning that had to the Maple Leafs organization. Then he’s asked to bring that intensity and skill to a market in ARI where hockey probably draws less crowds than a Pokemon competition.
So, I think a move to a smaller market where he won’t stand out everywhere he goes will be huge for Galchenyuk and his temperament. Domi moving to a larger, hockey crazed market is exactly what the doctor has ordered so far for the young player. He knows his efforts will reward him with the roar of the crowd, the Rock Star treatment off the ice, and gives him more motivation for his efforts.
There’s no denying that over a PPG level from Domi is a pleasant surprise and his PDO is sitting at 103.5 so there is bound to be some regression coming, but one cannot deny that Domi plays the game with a Gallagher-like effort and has earned the good fortune he has had.
I think that in MTL Domi is playing with a better supporting cast not only on the ice but off it too and the effect is clearly seen in his play this year. Should he regress to even a 0.8 PPG pace (65 pts/82 games) and play as a responsible Center this trade is still an incredible fleecing by Bergevin. He jettisoned a player that couldn’t handle the market for a top line C who thrives on the market.
Just a great deal for Montreal….
Go Habs Go
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