Domi looks forward to new opportuntity with Blue Jackets

Max Domi comes to Columbus with a reputation as an offensive threat with excellent speed and moves, but the newest Blue Jacket has a message to CBJ fans who want to get to know him after he was acquired in a trade Tuesday afternoon. 

“A guy that will bring it every shift,” said Domi, the 25-year-old former first-round pick whom the Blue Jackets acquired along with a third-round pick for Josh Anderson. “Since I was a kid, I was raised by a guy (father Tie Domi, a 16-year NHL veteran) that played an amazing career in the NHL and he never took a shift off. He certainly didn’t take the opportunity to play in the NHL for granted. 

“That’s how I was raised, and I’m no different. Anytime I’m on the ice, I’m going to do what I can to help the team. It’s all about winning. This team has been close. Hopefully I can help them get over the hump and help any way I possibly can. Whatever I’m asked to do, I’ll be ready to do it.” 

That all sounds good given what the Blue Jackets gave up to acquire Domi — and what they’ll have to do to keep him. Anderson is a former 27-goal scorer who is one of the most unique players in the NHL with his size and speed on the wing, but Columbus views Domi as someone who can fill a big hole. 

“We are happy with the trade we made today,” CBJ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. “We got a centerman that we have been looking for in Max Domi, and he’s going to fill a hole for us that we’ve been looking to fill for a long time and are excited about him joining our club. He brings a lot of different qualiites that we are looking for. He’s competitive, he’s feisty, he plays with a chip on his shoulder, he has good hockey sense, he has speed. So he’s going to bring a lot of those things into our club. He plays like a Blue Jacket.”

Domi will likely slot into a top-six center position for Columbus, per Kekalainen, and is due a new contract as he holds restricted free agent status. Add it all up and the five-year veteran immediately becomes a key piece of the Blue Jackets franchise. 

MORE: CBJ acquires Domi, pick for Anderson | Five things to know about Max Domi

And he knows it, already thinking about how he can push Columbus over the top after the franchise has made four straight playoff appearances.  

“First of all, I’m super excited,” he said of the trade, which he learned about while on the golf course Tuesday afternoon. “It always feels great to be somewhere where you’re wanted. They have a great team and a great coach. They work hard. I know firsthand how hard it is to play against Columbus. I’m excited to be on the other end of that. 

“They have some of the best defensemen in the league and some great veteran leadership and some good young talent, too. I’m just really excited to be a part of it, and I’m excited to help this team any way I possibly can.” 

Offensively, he could be a difference maker, as in two years with Montreal, the 5-10, 192-pound center had 45 goals and 116 points in 153 games. That includes career highs of 28 goals and 72 points in 2018-19 with the Canadiens as well as a 17-27-44 line in 71 games last season. In all, Domi has an 81-170-251 line in 375 NHL games with Montreal and Arizona, where he spent his first three seasons. 

“Whatever I’m asked to do, I’m ready to do that,” he said. “Growing up as an offensive player, I take pride in my offensive abilities. Everybody can always work on the defensive side of the game and all aspects of the game, so I’m going to try to continue to get better. Whatever role I’m asked to play, I’m going to play that.” 

Domi also has some familiarity with the Blue Jackets, much of it in the form of Anderson, one of his best friends since the two played together with the London Knights of the OHL. Still, he expects to have plenty of familiarity with his new city for a variety of reasons, including the fact he’s already heard from some future teammates.  

“It’s funny, the guy I got traded for is one of my best friends in the entire world,” Domi said. “That was the weirdest part of the whole entire day. It’s a lot to handle mentally given, holy smokes, I just got traded for my buddy. But I’ve heard such good things about (Columbus) and I’m sure he’s saying the same thing about Montreal. I’m super excited for Andy. I think he’s gonna do great there. 

“In terms of Columbus as a city, there are some family ties there. My stepmom is from Ohio. I believe she is a Buckeye, so my dad has spent some time there. And then in terms of the city, I’ve driven around it before. Andy has shown me around, shown me around the (Ohio State) campus before. It looked great. 

“Everybody that has played there — Cam (Atkinson) reached out to me, Nick Foligno reached out to me, PLD, Jonesy. It seems like there’s a great group of guys and I’m all excited to be a part of it.” 

Domi also has another odd tie to Columbus in the form of Mark Wahlberg. The actor, a longtime Domi family friend, owns a Chevrolet dealership in the capital city, and Wahlberg is just one of a contingent of high-profile friends Max has racked up over the years. 

He’s presented Drake with a Canadiens jersey after a concert at Centre Bell, and Domi has relationships with notable athletes like Tom Brady and Noah Syndergaard. 

“I’m a big believer that every person is the same,” Domi said. “You treat everyone the same way. I’m fortunate enough to meet some pretty cool people through my dad or through the sport of hockey, whatever it might be, and keep in contact with them. 

“You learn as much as you can from other people who are successful in other areas of life. I mean, a guy like Mark Wahlberg or a guy like Tom Brady, those are two guys who are the best at their craft in the world and you can certainly learn something from them, that’s for sure.” 

Domi wore No. 13 in Montreal but said, with Atkinson holding that number in Columbus, he’s likely to switch back to the No. 16 he wore with the Coyotes and Knights. In that sweater, he hopes to help the Blue Jackets pursue the Stanley Cup after winning playoff series each of the past two seasons. 

“We have every little piece there is to win,” he said. “We just have to find a way to string it together. This team has come very, very close in the past couple of years to doing something special, and I’m excited to help any way I can.”