Max Domi Bio
Maxwell Johannes Domi is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on March 2, 1995, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was selected 12th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Over his career, Domi has played for the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Dallas Stars, establishing himself as a versatile forward known for his energy and playmaking. He has also represented Canada in international competition, winning gold at both junior and senior levels.
Early Life and Background
Maxwell Johannes Domi was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in March 1995, when his father, Tie Domi, was a member of the original Winnipeg Jets franchise. A month after his birth, his father was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Max grew up in Toronto with his mother, Leanne Domi, and his sisters, Carlin and Avery. The family spent much of his childhood in the Toronto area, and Domi developed an early attachment to the Maple Leafs, the team his father represented for many seasons.
Domi is of Albanian descent, with his paternal grandparents having immigrated to Canada during periods of war and political upheaval in Albania. At the age of 12, following a hockey tournament in Detroit, Domi was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He manages the condition with an insulin pump attached to his hip, and the diagnosis became a defining element of his personal and public story. In 2019, he co-authored the book No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL with author Jim Lang, sharing his experiences with a wider audience.
Path to Hockey
Domi entered the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2011 after being selected by the Kingston Frontenacs with the eighth pick of the 2011 OHL draft. He was quickly traded to the London Knights, where he made an immediate impact. In his OHL debut against the Saginaw Spirit on September 23, 2011, Domi scored a hat trick and added an assist in an 8–0 victory. During the 2011–12 season, he won a bronze medal with Team Ontario at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and helped the Knights capture the 2012 OHL Championship.
His development continued during the 2012–13 season, when Domi played for Team Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and won a gold medal. He was also invited to the 2013 CHL Top Prospects Game and led the London Knights to a second consecutive OHL Championship. He capped his junior career by representing Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, where he was named the tournament’s Best Forward and selected to the All-Star Team as Canada captured gold.
Max Domi Career
Early Career (2015-2018)
At the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes selected Domi 12th overall. On July 14, 2013, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the franchise. His father, Tie Domi, had played for the organization when it was the Winnipeg Jets, adding a personal connection to the move. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney cited Domi’s strong chemistry with fellow prospect Anthony Duclair as a reason for acquiring Duclair from the New York Rangers.
Domi made his NHL debut on October 9, 2015, against the Los Angeles Kings and Jonathan Quick, recording his first career goal and assist. He and Duclair quickly developed a reputation as a dynamic duo, earning the nickname “The Killer D’s.” On January 12, 2016, Domi recorded his first NHL hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers, with two of his goals coming on the power play and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson assisting on all three.
Phoenix Coyotes Era (2015-2018)
During his time in Arizona, Domi wore jersey number 16 as a tribute to Bobby Clarke, a Hockey Hall of Fame player who also lived with Type 1 Diabetes. He spent three seasons with the Coyotes organization, becoming a key contributor and helping to establish the team’s young core. Following the 2017–18 season, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on June 15, 2018, in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk. The following day, he signed a two-year, $6.3 million contract extension with Montreal.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2018-2020)
Domi’s tenure in Montreal began with a notable preseason incident, as he was suspended after sucker punching Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad on September 19, 2018. On the ice, however, he quickly produced, recording two assists in the season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs and scoring his first goal for Montreal on October 17, 2018, in a 3–2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. He finished the 2018–19 season with 72 points, becoming the first Canadiens player since Tomáš Plekanec in 2009–10 to reach the 70-point mark. After switching to number 13, he paid tribute to his godfather, former Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2020-2022)
On October 6, 2020, Domi was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets along with a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for forward Josh Anderson. He signed a two-year, $10.6 million contract the following day. In his final season under contract with Columbus, he was dealt at the trade deadline to the Carolina Hurricanes via the Florida Panthers in a three-team trade on March 21, 2022.
Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks Era (2022-2023)
With the Hurricanes, Domi posted two goals and five assists in nineteen regular season games, then delivered one of the defining performances of his career during the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. In Game 7 of the first-round series against the Boston Bruins, he scored two goals and added a primary assist on a third in a 3–2 series-clinching victory, a performance widely praised by commentators. On July 13, 2022, he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, before being traded on his 28th birthday, March 2, 2023, to the Dallas Stars along with Dylan Wells in exchange for Anton Khudobin and a 2025 second-round pick.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2023-Present)
As a free agent from the Stars, Domi agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 2, 2023, returning to the city where he grew up watching his father play. During the 2023–24 season, he recorded 9 goals and 38 assists, contributing as a dependable middle-six forward. On June 30, 2024, he signed a four-year, $15 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs, securing his long-term role with the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Domi is recognized for his energy, physicality, and playmaking ability, combining offensive skill with a willingness to engage physically along the boards and in high-traffic areas. He has demonstrated versatility in being deployed across multiple lines and in both offensive and defensive situations. His ability to drive play alongside linemates has been a defining feature of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Domi’s signature moments are his first NHL hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers in January 2016 and his standout Game 7 performance against the Boston Bruins in 2022, widely regarded as one of the finest games of his career. He was also named Best Forward at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship and has won gold medals at both the junior and senior levels for Canada.
Max Domi Career Wins
Across his professional career, Max Domi has accumulated consistent offensive production in the NHL, registering multiple 50-plus point seasons and a 72-point campaign with the Montreal Canadiens in 2018–19. While individual trophy totals vary by season, his on-ice results reflect a forward trusted to play in all situations, from power plays to penalty kills.
NHL Highlights
Domi recorded his first NHL hat trick on January 12, 2016, against the Edmonton Oilers, and produced his most decorated offensive season with 72 points in 2018–19. His most recent contract extension, signed in June 2024, runs through 2028 and reflects his continued value to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
International Highlights
Domi won a gold medal with Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, where he was named Best Forward and selected to the All-Star Team. He later made his senior international debut at the 2016 World Championship, where Canada also captured gold.
Max Domi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Max Domi’s family background is rooted in professional hockey. His father, Tie Domi, played in the NHL for many seasons, including stints with the original Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs. His mother, Leanne Domi, raised Max and his two sisters, Carlin and Avery, in the Toronto area after the family relocated from Winnipeg. Domi is of Albanian descent through his paternal grandparents, who immigrated to Canada during periods of conflict in Albania.
Personal Life
Following his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis at age 12, Domi became a prominent advocate for awareness of the condition, using an insulin pump to manage his blood sugar during games and daily life. He chose jersey number 16 in Arizona as a tribute to Bobby Clarke and later switched to number 13 in Montreal in honour of his godfather, Mats Sundin. Outside of hockey, he co-authored the 2019 book No Days Off with Jim Lang, sharing his journey with diabetes and his path to the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Max Domi is in the early stages of a four-year, $15 million contract extension signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in June 2024. After recording 9 goals and 38 assists in 2023–24, he is expected to remain a fixture in Toronto’s middle-six forward group, contributing both offensively and in special teams situations. His familiarity with head coach Craig Berube’s system and his established role on the team position him as a steady veteran presence.
The Maple Leafs continue to pursue a deep playoff run, and Domi’s energy and physicality are expected to play a key role in Toronto’s push through the Eastern Conference. His ability to log minutes in all situations and deliver in high-pressure moments, as demonstrated in the 2022 playoffs with Carolina, makes him a valuable piece of the team’s core. With his contract secured and his role defined, Domi’s focus is firmly on helping Toronto compete for the Stanley Cup.