Things get worse for Max Domi under John Tortorella in Columbus

While Canadiens forward Josh Anderson has been impressing fans in Montreal in the first few games of the season, things aren’t going as well for Max Domi in Columbus. 

Things were rough from the start for the Blue Jackets’ new forward, when Domi quickly found himself in head coach John Tortorella’s doghouse. And we all know that’s not a place you want to be. He did not get his name on the point sheet, recording just one shot on goal throughout the entire and ended with a -1 differential on top of it. Then, he found himself in the penalty box after making a dumb decision, which got him to spend most of his time on the bench. While he started the game on the second line, Domi ended the contest with a 12:57 ice time, making him the third least used player of the Blue Jackets’ roster. Only Eric Robinson and Liam Foudy, two players on the team’s fourth line, were used less often. Domi sat on the bench for the final 5:18 in the first game.

On Monday afternoon, as the team faced the Detroit Red Wings, things got even worse for Domi who simply cannot manage to impress his demanding head coach and new teammates. He ended with no shots recorded and a -1 differential, as Torts attempted to help him by giving him more ice time, 14 minutes and 34 seconds that is. He is pointless and rates -4 after three games this season. 

In the meantime in Montreal, Anderson, who was shipped to the Canadiens in return for Domi, has put up two goals and a +1 rating in three games. 

When Tortorella was asked about Domi and if he has spoken to his player as cutting his ice time during the first game, Torts simply replied “nope.” And we know that once Tortorella puts you aside and ignores you, you don’t easily get out of this hole, unless you start scoring goals and putting up assists. 

Domi complained last season that he had a rocky relationship with Habs head coach Claude Julien, but his relationship with Tortorella is not really starting off on the right foot either… 

Let's see what he can do tonight in the game against Detroit and how many minutes Torts will give him on the ice.