Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign D Simon Benoit (1 year, $775k) Re-signed ( 3 year, $1.35mm)

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Then you're going to be very surprised this season with how Max Domi plays hockey. 15 different Leafs' forwards had more hits as members of the team than Domi had last season (22). Players like Engvall, Jarnkrok, Marner, Matthews, Kerfoot and Malgin had more hits. The only notable Leafs' forward with less hits than Domi was Nylander.

With Domi it's less about the hits and more about the greasiness and willingness to throw down. None of the guys you listed would drop the gloves or even have something to say after one of their own took a bad hit or liberties taken on them. Domi will also be more of a nuisance and agitator on the ice. Too many Leafs in the past few years have just been too passive and unwilling to engage with the opponent.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Size being equal, you cannot tell me Domi plays the same style as Abruzzese or SDA.

Which would mean there's more to a player than size, and players shouldn't be judged or dismissed just off their size. You should be telling the poster I responded to that.
Domi is also getting a lot of hyping up into something he's not around here.

 

[Lightsol]

Then you're going to be very surprised this season with how Max Domi plays hockey. 15 different Leafs' forwards had more hits as members of the team than Domi had last season (22). Players like Engvall, Jarnkrok, Marner, Matthews, Kerfoot and Malgin had more hits. The only notable Leafs' forward with less hits than Domi was Nylander.

I've been of the opinion for a while now that too many people in Toronto hear "Max Domi" and think "Tie Domi with more scoring". He's not. If anyone, Domi is more like a cheaper, not-as-good Michael Bunting.

 

[Gallagbi]

I've been of the opinion for a while now that too many people in Toronto hear "Max Domi" and think "Tie Domi with more scoring". He's not. If anyone, Domi is more like a cheaper, not-as-good Michael Bunting.

He can handle himself in a fight a lot better than Bunting, but im not sure he can provide the energy as regularly as Bunting. Maybe Toronto will be that spark for him

 

[Racer88]

"He asked for a 13 but he got a 31,
Give it to me baby uh-huh uh-huh!"

Great song…….

 

[Hellcat]

The guy keeps his game simple, played on a terrible Ducks team last year so his stats need to be viewed through that lens. 218 hits (#1 on team), 128 blocked shots (#1 on team), highest % of starts in D-zone for a defenceman (#1 on team).

Great value for a #7 or #8 d-man. Poor mans Holl with more grit.

SCOUTING REPORT

The undrafted defenseman has played his way into the NHL thanks to his willingness to give up his body, either by hitting opponents or blocking their shots. His best role may be as the defensive half of a partnership with someone who likes to jump into the play. Will not put up much offense, so he needs to get stronger to make the most of his opportunity as he enters his prime.
Long Range Potential: Solid defensive defenseman.

 

[ShaneFalco]

The guy keeps his game simple, played on a terrible Ducks team last year so his stats need to be viewed through that lens. 218 hits (#1 on team), 128 blocked shots (#1 on team), highest % of starts in D-zone for a defenceman (#1 on team).

Great value for a #7 or #8 d-man. Poor mans Holl with more grit.

SCOUTING REPORT
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]The undrafted defenseman has played his way into the NHL thanks to his willingness to give up his body, either by hitting opponents or blocking their shots. His best role may be as the defensive half of a partnership with someone who likes to jump into the play. Will not put up much offense, so he needs to get stronger to make the most of his opportunity as he enters his prime.[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Long Range Potential: Solid defensive defenseman.[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

And will actually stand up for teammates

With Domi it's less about the hits and more about the greasiness and willingness to throw down. None of the guys you listed would drop the gloves or even have something to say after one of their own took a bad hit or liberties taken on them. Domi will also be more of a nuisance and agitator on the ice. Too many Leafs in the past few years have just been too passive and unwilling to engage with the opponent.

Kyle created a care bear environment

 

[Macallan18]

"He asked for a 13 but he got a 31,
Give it to me baby uh-huh uh-huh!"

And all the girlies say he's pretty fly for a hockey guy

Size matters also.


That's what she said!!!!!

 

[Racer88]

Interesting that you left out not qualifying 6'2" Kral.
Interesting that you left out qualifying Abruzzese and SDA, two of our smallest prospects - as seen in the same tweet.
These prospects also don't have anything to do with our NHL defense, which has only gotten smaller. Treliving also didn't seem to have any issue signing 5'10" Domi.
The Leafs had a "REAL NHL GM" for the past 5 years, and every GM will have big and small players. This signing is basically this year's Benn.

We had a clown show for the last 5 years

 

[Lightsol]

He can handle himself in a fight a lot better than Bunting, but im not sure he can provide the energy as regularly as Bunting. Maybe Toronto will be that spark for him

Just don't give him a long term deal. If you decide you want to keep Max, give him a bunch of 1 years...

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I've been of the opinion for a while now that too many people in Toronto hear "Max Domi" and think "Tie Domi with more scoring". He's not. If anyone, Domi is more like a cheaper, not-as-good Michael Bunting.

That sounds like an underrating of Domi given he’s exceeded Bunting’s career high in points and even tied Bunting in scoring while with Chicago this season despite playing with much less talented players and in fewer games.

 

[Lightsol]

That sounds like an underrating of Domi given he’s exceeded Bunting’s career high in points and even tied Bunting in scoring while with Chicago this season despite playing with much less talented players and in fewer games.

Domi is an effective player when he gives a shit. That last part is the key factor. What he ain't is a better scoring version of his father, which is the point I'm trying to make. AND, as Arizona, Montreal and Columbus found out, he's also a lazy player... Unless his contract is about to expire. Notice his best statistical seasons are ones in which his contract is expiring at the end of the season and so he needs to prove he can still play to get another one...

 

[LeafChief]

Domi is an effective player when he gives a shit. That last part is the key factor. What he ain't is a better scoring version of his father, which is the point I'm trying to make. AND, as Arizona, Montreal and Columbus found out, he's also a lazy player... Unless his contract is about to expire. Notice his best statistical seasons are ones in which his contract is expiring at the end of the season and so he needs to prove he can still play to get another one...

I guess that makes it pretty perfect that he's on an expiring deal.

 

[Lightsol]

I guess that makes it pretty perfect that he's on an expiring deal.

Yep. My only concern with Domi is that the Leafs fall into that trap, as both Arizona and Montreal did, and give him a longer deal. Because if history is any indication, they'll end up trading him a year or two later, after a dismal season.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Where did the Domi, protector of teammates, thing start? I’m sure he’s had a few tilts after dirty hits on teammates, but most of his big fights are the same situation as Kadri, someone got in his head and baited his temper to make him a liability for the rest of the game.

I don’t mind, it’s fun to watch him lose his shit from an entertainment perspective, but he’s not exactly a team above all else on-ice cop, a lot of it is ego and lack of impulse control. If he was a team above all else kind of guy, he’d at least pretend the defensive zone exists and put some effort in when he isn’t on an expiring contract.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Where did the Domi, protector of teammates, thing start? I’m sure he’s had a few tilts after dirty hits on teammates, but most of his big fights are the same situation as Kadri, someone got in his head and baited his temper to make him a liability for the rest of the game.

I don’t mind, it’s fun to watch him lose his shit from an entertainment perspective, but he’s not exactly a team above all else on-ice cop, a lot of it is ego and lack of impulse control. If he was a team above all else kind of guy, he’d at least pretend the defensive zone exists and put some effort in when he isn’t on an expiring contract.

 

[Bluebear]

you forgot the one where Kessler was bullying some other young guy(can't remember) and Domi offered Kessler to bully him(was in his rookie year i think), and Kessler thinks he is gonna mash Domi, but instead gets one punch KO'd and helped off the ice....

 

[Hellcat]

I've been of the opinion for a while now that too many people in Toronto hear "Max Domi" and think "Tie Domi with more scoring". He's not. If anyone, Domi is more like a cheaper, not-as-good Michael Bunting.

Out goes one side show in Bunting and in comes another in Domi, Tie Domi ...

 

[notbias]

Where did the Domi, protector of teammates, thing start? I’m sure he’s had a few tilts after dirty hits on teammates, but most of his big fights are the same situation as Kadri, someone got in his head and baited his temper to make him a liability for the rest of the game.

I don’t mind, it’s fun to watch him lose his shit from an entertainment perspective, but he’s not exactly a team above all else on-ice cop, a lot of it is ego and lack of impulse control. If he was a team above all else kind of guy, he’d at least pretend the defensive zone exists and put some effort in when he isn’t on an expiring contract.

From what I've seen, Domi will actually protect teammates, almost to a fault though... wouldn't be shocked if he is suspended for punching an unwilling opponent at some point during the season.

The funnier thing is people think you can punch your way to a cup.

Calgary already tried this and failed miserably.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

From what I've seen, Domi will actually protect teammates, almost to a fault though... wouldn't be shocked if he is suspended for punching an unwilling opponent at some point during the season.

The funnier thing is people think you can punch your way to a cup.

Calgary already tried this and failed miserably.

We've tried the opposite for a while now and have one series win to show for it.

 

[notbias]

We've tried the opposite for a while now and have one series win to show for it.

Not sure punching people will help us score more.

 

[kb]

We had a clown show for the last 5 years

You mean the best 5 year stretch in team history?

 

[cyris]

You mean the best 5 year stretch in team history?

Huh?
The Leafs have a 5 year stretch in their history where they won 4 cups. The recent seasons have definitely been an improvement over the first decade of the salary cap era but it they don’t come close to the best 5 years in team history

 

[The Iceman]

you forgot the one where Kessler was bullying some other young guy(can't remember) and Domi offered Kessler to bully him(was in his rookie year i think), and Kessler thinks he is gonna mash Domi, but instead gets one punch KO'd and helped off the ice....

 

[kb]

Huh?
The Leafs have a 5 year stretch in their history where they won 4 cups. The recent seasons have definitely been an improvement over the first decade of the salary cap era but it they don’t come close to the best 5 years in team history

Oh, you mean way back in the 6 team league era where it took 8 games to win a cup.

How about regular season?