Will the Maple Leafs Miss Max Domi’s Edge?

It’s a shame Max Domi will miss time with his back injury. Not just because the Maple Leafs could use another forward. Because Domi is one of those players who makes a hockey game a little more interesting. He plays with an edge. He gets involved. He annoys people by getting in their faces.

And every once in a while, he gets himself into a little trouble, too. That's Max Domi.

The Maple Leafs transferred Domi to long-term injured reserve Wednesday after he experienced complications from surgery over the summer. There is no timetable for his return. That’s not exactly what many Toronto fans wanted to hear. At least, not me. Domi scored 12 goals and put up 36 points in 80 games last season. Those aren't superstar numbers. They aren't even particularly impressive numbers for a middle-six forward.

But that's not really why the Maple Leafs have Domi.

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Domi Brings Something You Can't Find in the Box Score.

Watch him play for a few minutes, and you understand it. Domi competes. He finishes checks. He gets involved after the whistle. He goes into places where bigger players sometimes don't want to go. And he has never seemed particularly interested in making the other team comfortable.

That's useful, especially in Toronto. The Maple Leafs have spent the offseason trying to build a team that can handle the kind of hockey that shows up when the games get serious. More size. More physicality. More players willing to make somebody uncomfortable.

And Domi already knows how to do that. He doesn't have to score 25 goals to have an impact. Sometimes he just has to be Max Domi.

Maybe That's What the Maple Leafs Will Miss Most About Domi.

Here’s my secondary thought. We tend to measure players by goals, assists and salary. Domi makes that a little difficult. His 36 points don't tell the whole story. Neither do his 95 penalty minutes.

There is something else there — an edge. And when you're putting together a team for playoff hockey, that can matter. The Maple Leafs have added players who can bring some of that physical element. So Domi isn't the only player on the roster who can make opponents uncomfortable. But he's different.

He's been doing it his whole career. And there's something fun about having a player like that on your side.

The Maple Leafs Will Survive Without Max Domi for a While.

The team has other forwards. They have depth. But watching Toronto's new-look team this season, I'll be watching for something that won't show up in the standings. When things get a little nasty, who brings the edge? Because that's one thing Max Domi certainly brings. And it will be nice to see him bring it again.

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