Arizona Coyotes F Max Domi Suspended One Game

Arizona Coyotes F Max Domi Suspended One Game for Instigator

Arizona Coyotes F Max Domi has been automatically suspended one game for his actions that occurred in the final five minutes of a game Thursday night versus Anaheim.

Sticking up for a teammate, the NHL rookie was assessed a two-minute minor for instigating, five minutes for fighting, and a game misconduct. Since the play occurred in the last five minutes (2:30 remaining in third period), the league deems it an automatic suspension under Rule 46.22.

Arizona Coyotes F Max Domi will relinquish $4641.58 of earnings. The money from player fines are given to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

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"When they go after our best player, that's just how hockey works." - @max_domi
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 4, 2016

Stemming from a Ryan Garbutt hit on Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Domi proceeded by cross-checking the Ducks forward in the back, before dropping the mitts and landing a couple big shots.

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Largely a grey-area hit. A first glance, it seems clean enough. Upon re-watching, there are three factors that warrant Max’s behavior. First, Garbutt is clearly charging Ekman-Larsson – you see a solid five or six strides in his direction that start before OEL even touches the puck. Second, clean hit or not, contact in the danger area (a couple of feet from the boards) is made. Lastly, it’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson – The Coyotes star player.

Now, we know Arizona Coyotes F Max Domi plays a much more skilled, different style of hockey from his father, Tie Domi. The one common personality trait the father-son duo shares is clearly a temper.

This can work two-fold. On one hand, you need a player who is willing to step up in those situations to send a message to the league that, “you will be held accountable for your actions on the ice”. On the flip side, with Max being one of your star players, a Ryan Garbutt type might use that to their advantage, even if it means off-setting penalties. If you can take a star forward with you to the box as a bottom six forward, you’ve done your job.

Was it a smart play by Max Domi? Of course not. Was it necessary? Absolutely. Anaheim’s Ryan Garbutt is a bit of head case himself, and loves to play with that physicality to puts him on the edge, much like a Dustin Byfuglien or Raffi Torres.

Here’s a guy (Garbutt) that’s been suspended for slew-foots, kneeing, and charging, just to name a few. Playing with an edge is fine, actually it’s encouraged. But you better be ready to drop the gloves at a moment’s notice to defend your actions.

Playing turtle with a small undersized forward (Domi) is a cowardice act. Yes, he was blindsided… at first. He had every opportunity to defend himself before Max Domi got the better of him, and the referees intervened. He should be embarressed, and so should the Ducks organization/fan base. It was pathetic to watch on Garbutt’s part.

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Ryan Garbutt, gets paid to be a physical force – being that pest or agitator on the ice. He has been traded twice in the past calendar year because he’s not doing his job effectively. When his $900,000 contract expires at the end of 2016-17, Garbutt will struggle to sign a new contract if he’s relying on his offensive skill-set that doesn’t exist.