Max Domi Gets To Sit Out The Rest Of Preseason Now After His "Suspension"
The Montreal Canadiens have 5 preseason games left on their schedule. For guys like Domi who are already a lock to make the opening night roster, preseason games don’t mean a damn thing. Sure, maybe he would have gotten some better looks on some different lines over the course of these next 5 games. But the kid was traded for Alex Galchenyuk. It’s not like he’s some kid out there who is trying to make the team and not get sent back to junior or something like that. So in reality, Max Domi gets to just treat the next couple of weeks like he’s on vacation and not have to risk getting hurt while playing in some meaningless hockey games before the actual season starts for the Habs on October 3rd. Seems pretty sweet to me.
I mean I’m sure this will land Domi in the dog house a little within the organization. I’m sure he’ll probably end up with a few bag skates on his schedule for this. And it definitely puts him on thinner ice with the Department of Player Safety moving forward. But all in all? Not having to miss any regular season games? Doesn’t really seem like the worst suspension to me.
With that all being said, that was still a shit head move by Max Domi. When I wrote a blog earlier this week saying there is nothing grittier than a preseason hockey fight, I was talking about when it’s a couple of dudes who are looking to make the team and chuckin’ the knucks is their option to get noticed. Guys like Max Domi and Aaron Ekblad don’t have to fight in preseason because they’ve got nothing out there to prove. Especially when you’re dealing with a guy like Ekblad who has dealt with some concussion issues during his career. Domi needs to have a little more respect than to go out there thinking that everybody needs to fight him if he’s ready to go. If another guy isn’t ready to drop the gloves, then move on. I’m all for guys trying to spark their team and I’m sure in the heat of the moment that’s all Domi was looking to accomplish. But if you start taking shots like that seemingly unprovoked, it’s only a matter of time before you catch one yourself. So Max Domi gets a 5-game preseason “suspension”, but I’m sure the real punishment will come the next time Montreal plays Florida. And then after that, it’ll all be settled. Because that’s what is so great about hockey. Somebody will fight Domi for Ekblad and all will be forgotten after that.
And a quick piece of free advice to Aaron Ekblad. When you’re dealing with a lunatic whose last name is Domi and he clearly has that look in his eyes like he wants to kill you, maybe just put your hands up to protect yourself. This could have easily ended up being much worse than it was. Not victim shaming here at all, but you can never be too careful.