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Max Domi Has Found His Spot Beside Auston Matthews

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 3:51 PM ET

It’s taken a while, but Max Domi looks like he’s finally found a real home in Toronto — and it’s right beside Auston Matthews.

What’s really starting to stand out is how comfortable Domi looks next to Matthews. He’s not trying to reinvent himself out there. He knows who he’s playing with. Matthews doesn’t need a puck carrier glued to his hip. He needs someone who sees the ice the same way, keeps plays from dying, and slips him the puck just when defenders think the chance is gone.

That’s not an accident. That’s where Domi shines.

Domi Is Seeing Matthews on the Ice and Allowing Him to Shine

There was a sequence the other night — a saucer pass through traffic, five bodies in a phone booth — that barely looked possible. Domi didn’t hesitate. He already knew where No. 34 was going to be before Matthews even got there. That kind of chemistry doesn’t come from systems or whiteboard diagrams. It comes from feeling the play.

Coaches love something else about Domi right now, too: he gets to spots on his own. He doesn’t need plays drawn up for him. He reads pressure, slides into open ice, and suddenly the game opens up. That’s where his playmaking really shows up. When things break down, he doesn’t freeze — he facilitates.

Domi Plays with an Edge to His Game

And yes, you can’t talk about Domi without talking about his edge. He chirps, agitates, and lives under opponents’ skin. That matters even more when you’re playing on the top line. Matthews doesn’t need protection, but having someone who’s willing to stir things up creates space, distractions, and second thoughts from defenders.

What makes this stretch interesting is the balance. The Maple Leafs finally look like a team where roles make sense up and down the lineup. Domi doesn’t look like he’s trying to prove he belongs anymore. He looks like he knows he does.

If this version of Max Domi sticks — the playmaker, the agitator, the confident fit beside Matthews — the Maple Leafs aren’t just filling a spot on the top line. They’re solving a problem they’ve had for a long time.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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