Max Domi on his way to the Penguins?!

When you get eliminated this early by a rival, you might consider looking at what’s working for them and how you can get it in your camp. 

That might be what the Pittsburgh Penguins are doing now that a new trade rumour has surfaced. Elliotte Friedman believes forward Max Domi could be coming to Pittsburgh and play for the Penguins next season. 

Now, we’re not saying Domi was a huge difference maker in the Penguins-Canadiens series, however, he could bring his grit and energy. Domi’s father, Tie is very close to Penguins owner and former star player Mario Lemieux - who happens to be Max’s godfather. 

There is surely something there that makes us believe Friedman could be right about this. 

“Here’s an early bet as to who could be a Penguin next year: Max Domi.”

When Domi was traded to the Canadiens from the Arizona Coyotes, it was said that the Penguins had also attempted to grab him by sending either forward Conor Sheary or Bryan Rust, along with prospect Dominik Simon. The Coyotes had preferred to acquire Alex Galchenyuk from the Habs, and we all know how that turned out. 

Domi is coming off a $3.1 million annual salary and has arbitration rights. He had a decent season scoring 44 points (17 goals + 27 assists in 71 games), but it was a step-back from his first season in Montreal in 2018-19 when Domi recorded 71 points (28G+44A) in 82 games.

We have no clue what it would take for the Penguins to convince the Canadiens to part with the pending restricted free agent. Pittsburgh recently revealed that the team would be keeping the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and instead handing the Minnesota Wild the rights to their first round pick in next year’s draft. Could that pick be in play? 

We will have to keep a close eye on this rumour ahead of the free agency season opening. For now, while Domi might be playing his last games with the Canadiens he is focused on beating the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the postseason.