Montreal Canadiens must decide what to do with Max Domi

The Montreal Canadiens have a huge decision to make regarding Max Domi. Do they keep him or extend him? The answer is more complicated than you think.

During the NHL’s hiatus, it’s been interesting to see how teams and players have been dealing with their unplanned time off. Some have used the time to negotiate new contracts. Others have understandably been focused on more important things. The Montreal Canadiens and soon to be restricted free agent Max Domi are in the latter group.

In a recent interview, Domi was asked about his contract. While no negotiations have been going on, he gets it.

“As of right now, no, there hasn’t been much discussed,” Domi said, via The Athletic. “But, again, there’s so much stuff going on that’s more important than my contract in the world, so I understand.”

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Domi’s future in Montreal is likely tied to something he can’t really control. That thing is where the Canadiens view him as a player. Is he a center or a wing? Domi insists he’s a center and wants to play there.

Considering centers traditionally make more money than wings and tend to get more playing time, it’s not hard to see why he wants to be one. It’s also worth noting Domi didn’t play center in the NHL regularly until being traded to Montreal. He’s quickly fallen in love with the position, for better or for worse.

However, at the same time, it’s very hard to see Domi staying in Montreal as a center. They currently have Phillip Danault (an extremely underrated two-way center) and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, a third overall pick, as options. The Canadiens also have Nick Suzuki, who was the center piece of the Max Pacioretty trade.

Now, Kotkaniemi had a very poor sophomore season, so he’s not as much of a lock as he was a year ago. But given his talent and his high hockey IQ, it wouldn’t surprise me if he bounces back next season.

Danault, much like Domi, is going to need a new contract soon, though not quite as soon as Domi. His deal runs through the end of the 2020-21 season, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent. Domi’s future in Montreal might be tied to Danault’s. If the latter stays, it’s hard to see the former sticking around if he truly wants to be a center. But if the latter doesn’t stay, Domi’s desires to stay in Montreal and be a center could both come true.

It never hurts to have extra centers, but at some point, there are only so many face-offs to go around. Somebody has to suffer, and Domi’s likely going to draw that short straw if he’s a center with the Canadiens. In that piece from The Athletic, he also discussed why he loves playing center and whether he thinks his game suffers when he’s a wing.

One thing he talked about was that he likes to have to puck. As a center, Domi has more control there. Though it’s not unheard of for wings to have the puck a lot, it’s certainly harder for a wing to be that kind of player than it is for a center.

Ultimately, Domi’s future with the Montreal Canadiens is tied to whether he’s a center or a wing. The two sides still have time to figure out the answer to that $64,000 question, but at the same time, the clock is ticking.