Jets Draft Preview – Max Domi

Max Domi (C/W, 2013), London – can attribute his success this season to the work he put in during the summer – adding 12 pounds of muscle, primarily in his core and lower body .. small in terms of size, yet already possessing leg and trunk strength that rivals some NHLers .. extremely tough to knock off the puck because he is so balanced and strong on his skates .. benefits from the added strength which makes him harder on the puck now when engaging in the trenches, traffic areas, and along the boards .. a shifty player – backed by above-average speed .. boasts multiple levels of quickness due to a short, compact stride that swallows up ice .. generates tremendous acceleration and speed while executing crossovers .. stays low to the ice and is always navigating with head fakes and dekes to side-step opponents .. a most lethal counter-attack threat, extremely effective when playing high in the defensive zone and exploiting his swift acceleration gear to get a jump on the opposition .. reaches full speed within a handful of strides, and can be a real challenge to stop .. able to change the complexion of a game .. capable of taking the puck end-to-end – and can burn a goalie from 25-to-30 feet out with a sizzling wristshot that explodes off his stick .. gradually becoming more mature in terms of his offensive play, and specifically puck distribution .. does a decent job passing the puck, a criticism that plagued him as a rookie .. still has a real hunger for the puck, however now is starting to exhibit better patience in his approach play .. more confident holding the puck and curling back once he gains the offensive zone – and can stickhandle while standing still in order to create a passing lane .. his development as a playmaker adds dimension to his offensive repertoire and makes him that much more difficult to play against .. always around the puck when he is on the ice, albeit can ‘ride the pine’ occasionally in even-strength, 5-on-5 situations, when the coaches are concerned about his defensive intensity .. shows marked improvement in his overall defense however, yet comes up alarmingly flat and static as a checker in his own zone at times .. must continue to round out his game and learn how to fully exploit his skating, strong competitive nature, and superior puck skills.

Max is the son of former enforcer Tie Domi, but he differs completely from his father in talent level. Max is a highly-skilled player who can impact an offense in multiple ways. One NHL source said he possesses clearly high-end playmaking abilities. He controls the puck, and he can make quality passes in a multitude of ways: slowing the game from the sideboards, through tight spaces in pressure, or saucers over a defender’s stick. Although he is undersized at 5’9", he has very quick feet, and he displays a good level of speed and agility. He has the explosiveness a small player needs to play on a top line in the NHL. Combining his speed with his high-end puck skills makes Domi a dangerous scoring threat. Domi possesses dynamic qualities when creating offense, but often, he tries to be too fancy. He has a high on-ice work ethic and he does not shy from contact despite his size. He will need to improve his defense at the next level. Ranking explanation: Domi is similar to Hunter Shinkaruk in many regards. They are both small forwards who skate well, work hard, and possess the offensive ability to score. They handle the puck with proficiency, and they both possess high-end hockey IQ. This is a marginal decision, at best. Domi is a slightly better skater and puck possessor, but Shinkaruk’s size is better suited for NHL success. It is a close decision, but I ultimately prefer Domi based on how much I have liked him on tape.