New Jersey Devils Trade Deadline Profile: Max Domi

The New Jersey Devils have made it clear that if they are going to make a trade at the deadline, it will be for a player that helps now and in the future. One player that could still have a bright future, but needs a change of scenery is Max Domi.

Word on the rumor mill is the Arizona Coyotes are actually taking calls on young forward Max Domi. The former first-round pick is in his second full season in the NHL, but has not been able to really find an offensive spark. New Jersey Devils general manager could use his slow start to make a move on him.

Domi cannot find the back of the net this season. He has just four goals on 113 shots. Nope, that’s not a typo. He’s thrown the puck at the net more than two times a game, yet only scored on 3.5% of those shots. No other forward with 100 shots has less than 4%. Tomas Plekanic is next on the list with five goals on 123 shots.

Clearly, Domi needs some coaching up. His time with the Coyotes has been an interesting one. He started his career on absolute fire. In his rookie season, he scored 18 goals with 34 assists. It looked like it was going to be an amazing career for the young shooter. Things fell apart almost immediately.

His career started to go off the rails after an upper-body injury following a fight last December. He had five goals up until that point, and was finally getting hot after a slow start. When he returned, he just wasn’t the same.

This season he looks lost. Because of his struggles, rumor has it the Coyotes are taking calls on him.

It’s hard to make the argument for why to make this trade. Why should the Devils make a move, on a team that wants “fair value” on a player with four goals? What even is fair value?

The fact that the Yotes are reportedly taking calls on Domi say he can be had for the right price.

Domi is getting ready for a contract negotiation at the end of the season. He’s a restricted free agent, so whatever team acquires him will have control over him. That helps his value, despite his terrible season.

Honestly, the Devils cannot overpay for this type of player. Yes, he is super young and has immense upside, but his play on the ice has been terrible. There are signs he could turn it around tomorrow, but until we see it we can’t believe it. I can see this being a similar season that Miles Wood had last year, and we’ve seen him blossom this year in the right situation.

So what should the Devils offer up for the services of Domi?

I think the Coyotes will ask for something insane like Michael McLeod in return. I also think Shero laughs at that proposal. The Coyotes will also try to make a move for young players, and might even ask for Wood. Again, that’s not happening.

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This is a trade that could possibly happen. Blake Coleman and a second-round pick in exchange for Max Domi. It seems like a lot to give up for a player with four goals, but this season needs to be looked at in a vacuum. Domi could hate losing, and may be playing a little too ho hum. He’s been great every time he’s played in the World Junior Championship, scoring 10 points in seven games in 2015. He had 331 points in four OHL seasons. There is clearly a ton of upside with Domi.

Coleman, on the other hand, could soon become expendable with McLeod, Jesper Boqvist, John Quenneville and more coming up the pipeline in upcoming seasons. Coleman has been better than expected this season, but how much better can he get?

So that’s the trade. It may not happen, because I can see a team like the Vancouver Canucks making a huge offer to try and get him. They really need young players to build around. However, the Devils can offer one of their young forwards in return for a guy desperately needing a change of scenery.

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