Toronto Maple Leafs Reward Max Domi For Fit On Matthews Line

The Toronto Maple Leafs got some important business done early Sunday afternoon, re-signing veteran forward Max Domi to a four-year contract worth $3.75 million annually.

The deal gives the 29-year-old winger a relatively slight raise on the $3 million he earned in each of the past two seasons. It also confirms Leafs GM Brad Treliving loved what he saw when Domi became linemates with superstar center Auston Matthews, particularly Domi’s tenacious attitude and creativity with the puck and his ability to feed Matthews a steady stream of high-quality scoring chances.

The Maple Leafs also re-signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract worth $3 million per year. That leaves Toronto with just under $13 million left in salary cap space and 17 of 23 roster spots filled. 

That number will shrink in a hurry when/if UFA defenseman Chris Tanev signs a deal with Treliving. And by the time Toronto signs or trades for a veteran goaltender, they’ll be right up against the cap ceiling.

For that reason, we expect Leafs management to continue wheeling and dealing in the coming days and weeks. They’re going to cut costs wherever possible – which is why they have to look at dealing someone like depth center David Kampf, who at $2.4 million per season is doing things that can be replaced by someone making one-third that amount. They’ll stitch together a new-look lineup in the next few days to keep Leafs Nation from boiling over with frustration over a perceived lack of sufficient change.

But back to Domi. In bringing him back and making a notable commitment to him, the Leafs are locking down someone who utterly loves playing in his hometown of Toronto. 

He’s a player who probably could’ve gotten slightly more than what he got. Domi posted 38 assists and 47 points in 80 games in 2023-24, and he should be able to do at least as well with a full year on the same line as Matthews. Good work done here by Treliving, and good news for Domi.