Arizona Coyotes: Max Domi Will Reportedly Miss Six Weeks With Hand Injury
The Arizona Coyotes may be without their top offensive playmaker for the foreseeable future.
It may be a while before Max Domi suits up again for the Arizona Coyotes.
According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, the 21-year-old could miss up to six weeks with a hand injury sustained in his fight with Garnet Hathaway.
If the prognosis is true, this is a huge blow to the Yotes.
Domi has been the primary catalyst for the Coyotes’ meager offense this season.
He’s pacing the team in assists and has generated 16 points in 26 games, good for second best on the team.
Wherever Dave Tippett put him in the lineup, and whoever he placed him with, Max Domi gave that line an opportunity to generate scoring chances and offensive zone time. Both of those things are at a premium this season in Arizona with the team struggling to generate offense.
Needless to say, Domi’s absence will be noticeable.
His hand injury came in an ill-advised scrap with Garnet Hathaway of the Calgary Flames.
Hathaway got the better end of the fight, and a maniacally grinning Max Domi did not return to the game afterward.
Due to the injury around his eye, there was thought that he was being considered week-to-week due to an orbital bone injury, however Kypreos’ report suggests otherwise.
The long term loss of Domi for such a trivial reason puts his devil-may-care attitude in perspective.
Related Story: Yotes Need Domi Scoring, Not Fighting
While fans love his fire, the team needs his scoring more.
After what transpired with Joe Vitale last season, it’s fair for the Arizona Coyotes and their fans to suggest caution from Domi moving forward. He doesn’t need to drop the edge from his game altogether, but perhaps be a little more calculated in when he decides to employ the gifts he received from his father.
As we said after the Flames game, there’s a reason players like Ryan White, John Scott, Kyle Chipchura, and Lawson Crouse have been included on recent editions of the Coyotes’ roster.
It’s to deal with cheap shots, bad hits, and overall surliness from opposing players.
Max Domi’s job is to score and create goals.
It’s not worth the risk of Domi sitting with a concussion or suffering worse effects due to an ill-taken battle with a more seasoned brawler.
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Dave Tippett and the Arizona Coyotes should encourage Domi to allow Ryan White and “The Sheriff” to do their jobs.
And they should encourage White and Crouse to actually do them, so Domi doesn’t feel the need.