Craig Berube Reveals What He Expects From Max Domi to Keep His Top Line Role
Photo credit: David Banks - Imagn Images
While it sounds like Max Domi will get the first look on the top line, Craig Berube is making no promises that he'll remain there if he can't meet the demands.
After months of speculating about who would replace Mitch Marner on the Maple Leafs' top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, head coach Craig Berube broke his silence before training camp, insinuating that it would be Max Domi's spot to lose.
Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs haven't been able to see what the trio can do together in pre-season games with Domi having missed the first three due to a lower-body injury and then Matthews resting against Montreal last week.
On paper, Domi's fit makes perfect sense, considering his instinct to pass first. However, Berube is hoping that his promotion up the lineup will open his game more and force him to be a bit more aggressive offensively.
With Max, we have to let him play his game and what he's good at, but at the same time, he has to change a little bit. I need him to get inside more. I need him to shoot more. You know, it can't be all about looking for Matthews or Knies with plays. We need him to make plays, he's got to use his shot. We need him to be a bulldog out there. I need him to be responsible defensively.
Berube's constant mentioning of Domi taking more shots and looking to be more aggressive stems from the fact that the veteran forward has scored just 17 goals over the last 2 seasons, while also firing just 93 shots on goal in 74 contests last year.
For a player who is expected to provide secondary scoring, 1.25 shots per game is definitely not acceptable, and it will be something that Berube and the rest of his coaching staff will be keeping tabs on to start the season.
While it's certainly going to be very tempting to try to set up either Matthews or Knies, Domi needs to take his coach's words to heart and be a "bulldog". That should translate to playing aggressively, going in the corners, finishing checks, getting to the inside of the ice and into scoring areas, and looking to be a bit more selfish.
These are the types of things that Berube is essentially demanding out of Domi, which will help him decipher whether or not he can remain on the first line for the foreseeable future.
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