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Insider reports Max Domi already available for trade in Columbus

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TJ Tucker
March 10, 2021  (2:18 PM)
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What a roller coaster ride the last few months have been for Max Domi. After seemingly wanting out of Montreal, Domi was granted a trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets, with Josh Anderson going the other way. Domi was pumped as the Blue Jackets had plans to have him be the team's first or second line centre. He was immediately signed to a new two-year deal worth $5.3 million per season and everything seemed to be coming up Domi. Then the regular season started and it went straight downhill.

Domi is now mostly playing wing on the fourth line for Columbus. He has just three goals and seven points in 27 games and is a minus-15. Aaron Portzline, who covers Columbus for The Athletic and is a well-connected guy, released his list of untouchables and likely goners in Columbus with the trade deadline just over a month away. Domi is listed as firmly available. Here's what he had to say:

Can't believe it's come to this already, but Domi has made very little positive impact this season. The Blue Jackets are privately hoping that Domi is taking a while to adjust to a new franchise, but his career-high 72 points (in 2018-19) came during his first season in Montreal. Word to the wise, though: trade Domi now and you're definitely selling low and cementing the Josh Anderson trade as one of the worst in franchise history.

While it was expected that Domi would take some time getting to know John Tortorella's system, the team had hoped for much more from him after 27 games. He's averaging just over 14 minutes of ice-time per game this season, a number that would be much higher if he were actually centring the first or second line.

For Montreal Canadiens fans, there is a lot of division over whether GM Marc Bergevin is actually doing a good job. However, turning Alex Galchenyuk into Max Domi into Josh Anderson is something most will agree was a steal for the Habs all around.