Max Domi talks with Craig Berube, would love a chance to play for him

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A Domi and Berube on the same Toronto bench?   

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That duo surely would’ve struck fear in foes 25 years ago when Tie Domi was in his glory as Leafs enforcer and Craig Berube was filling his NHL fight card.

Today, the intrigue is Max Domi being coached by Berube, a match made in hawkish hockey heaven. Tie and Craig had a couple of rumbles, during the 1990s, in a Rangers-Flyers game and when Domi was a Maple Leaf .    

“I’ve known Chief through my dad,” Domi told the Sun during his ‘highlight of the summer’ as ambassador for Sunday morning’s Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk at Seton Park in Toronto. “He’s a great coach, great human being who holds guys accountable. And he’s won (a Stanley Cup). He played the game the right way for a long time and was the ultimate teammate. 

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“Yes, we’ve talked (Domi declined to say who made the first call after Berube was named as Sheldon Keefe’s replacement on May 17).  All the guys in the locker room, the staff, they’re going to benefit from having him around every single day. There’s a presence around him, he means business. 

 “Whether I’m here or not, he’s exactly what this team needs to take the next step.” 

That potential hurdle in all this is indeed the issue of Domi remaining a Leaf beyond July 1. After a seven-team NHL sojourn well before his 30th birthday, Domi craves a longer stretch than one season in his hometown, especially after getting “a taste” in 2023-24, which stretched to a Game 7 overtime playoff loss to Boston. 

After a slow start, Domi found his niche on Auston Matthews’ wing and recorded 27 of his 51 total points in 33 games from mid-February through Game 5 of the series. Not his best season overall, but his intangibles included a physical presence that produced a career-high 118 penalty minutes. 

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“I know my agent (Judd Moldaver, same as Matthews) has been talking to (general manager Brad Treliving), though I have to keep that discussion in-house,” Domi said. “Whatever happens will happen, but I’ve still enjoyed every second as a Leaf. I’d love to come back, it’s a special organization, a special group of guys.” 

Domi played under a one-year $3-million US deal and it’s believed the Leafs would have to go at least another million if they want to keep him. In Treliving’s most recent comments to reporters at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo, regarding Domi, forward Tyler Bertuzzi and other prominent UFAs such as Ilya Samsonov, the GM said any new deal “has got to work for them and got to work for us. There’s a pie and there’s only so much to go around. 

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“We’ve got a few guys who are up and part of this is getting better, too. It’s not just being the same. You’re trying to get better in the process as well. So, we’ll see.” 

Judging by the lineup of youngsters in Leafs sweaters Sunday and those who came to hear Domi’s inspiring talk of living with Type 1 diabetes, there’s no better off-ice address for him. A couple of kids wore hockey gloves for the 3K-5K trek and on stage Domi introduced Type 1 teenager Raj Hiutin, who first met him at age 7 and who now plays ‘A’ level for the GTHL’s Goulding Park Rangers.  

“I enjoy sharing the day with people who have Type 1 and showing them ‘Hey, I’m living the dream and you can, too’,” Domi said. “And to meet their parents to show them some light at the end of the tunnel. 

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“I learn more (through conversing) with people who have Type 1 than any doctor or specialist. These kids mean a lot to me and that’s who I play for. They’re an extension of me and I want to make them proud, show them what you’re capable of, by telling them my story. 

“Someday, one of them might play NHL hockey, too, you never know. It’s whatever you want to be, a teacher, a parks’ worker, whatever you want to do despite Type 1. It’s kind of labelled a big negative or an asterisk in your life, but you can turn that into a positive with the right mindset and the proper team around you.” 

Domi’s mother Leanne, his sisters and his girlfriend — “the whole squad is my rock”– were present on Sunday. Max is forever grateful to Leanne for getting up at 3 a.m., sometimes to administer insulin when he was diagnosed at age 12. Recently, he’s teamed up with Dexcom-g7, a thumbprint-sized sensor that relays real-time glucose readings to a Smartphone or watch every five minutes via an app.   

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Still, he must go to great lengths every day of the schedule to have medications at the ready and be monitored by the training staff. He eats the same breakfast and lunch six straight days, usually high fat, high protein, allowing himself latitude on a Sunday for a treat.

He must also be careful with length of workouts and recovery time. He said teammates such as Matthews, Mitch Marner and Samsonov always have his back to make sure any special dietary needs are taken care of, especially on the road. 

The 31st annual JDRF event is one of 15 across Canada to raise funds this month, with approximately 300,000 participants of all ages, hoping for a cure and to improve lives in the present. 

“The goal is to put ourselves and Type 1 out of business,” said JDRF national content manager Ruth Kapelus. 

lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby 

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