With the new year coming and the trade deadline just around the corner, there are plenty of viable options for the Leafs if they're looking to bolster their middle six. One such addition could be the son of a former Leaf. Max Domi, son of the legendary Tie Domi, brings more finesse to his game than his old man and also has a bit of a mean streak. Though he's not nearly as mean as his dad, adding Domi to the Leafs' middle six would be an upgrade, and would make the Leafs a much less enjoyable opponent to play against.
If the Leafs are interested in bringing in Domi, the asking price, as it stands, may force the Buds to turn elsewhere. Domi's cap hit without any retention is only $3 million, which means if the Blackhawks retain half, he easily fits into the Leafs' cap structure. The question isn't whether or not Domi could be an asset to the Leafs. The question is, where do they draw the line in terms of an asking price?
Reports out of Chicago are claiming that the Hawks want 1st round picks for both Domi and Andreas Athanasiou. An executive from outside of the organization is skeptical that the Hawks will get that. The anonymous exec believes the Blackhawks will be more likely to get a 3rd or 4th rounder for each player.
Teams can ask whatever they want. At the end of the day, it's not about the ask, it's about what the team acquiring the player is willing to pay. Personally, I cannot see Dubas shelling out a 1st round pick for Max Domi. Time will tell what the future has in store for the Buds to help upgrade their forward corps, and Domi would certainly be a fun addition, but not at the rumoured asking price.
