Arizona Coyotes wingers Max Domi and Anthony Duclair are very good. Together, they account for the highest point total in the National Hockey League for any pair of rookies on the same team with 18 points. Max, son of former NHL winger Tie Domi, is second in the league in points (11) for rookies behind injured Edmonton forward, Connor McDavid. With McDavid needing surgery on his clavicle and expected to be out “long term” I fully anticipate Domi to jump ahead of the rest of the rookie pack in point totals.
Let’s not forget teammate and one of Max’s best friends, Duclair. Domi and Duclair are both tied for second in the rookie goal scoring standings, each notching 5 thus far, a team high. It comes to no surprise that these two young guys are playing phenomenal when on the ice together. “The Killer D’s” were line-mates on Team Canada’s victorious squad in the 2015 World Junior Championships in Toronto.
Most of the rookie hype this season has been focused on McDavid and Jack Eichel, which may not be a bad thing for the pair. With less focus on them living up to being the next Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin, they have quietly been able to rack up points and lead the Coyotes to a 5-5-1 record in October, trumping their 2014 record of 3-6 in the month. Via the Toronto Sun, “Don Cherry already is calling Domi the frontrunner for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, the same predication made by Teemu Selanne, his dad Tie’s former teammate in Winnipeg.” Growing up Max was around some of the NHL’s greats due to his father having a long 17-year career in the league playing for the Jets, Rangers and Leafs. Domi has said from the get-go that he has always wanted to be in the spotlight and is ready to perform, he sure meant it.
When Arizona traded Keith Yandle to the New York Rangers in return for Duclair and John Moore, much of the fan base in Arizona was shocked to see the move, however, its paying huge dividends for the club now. Through the month of October, Domi has posted a line of 5-6-11 with Duclair not far behind posting a 5-2-7 in his own respect. With much talk of this franchise potentially leaving the desert, these two studs are helping to build a foundation for the franchise, and give hope to the fans that their beloved Coyotes are here to stay.
With a fan base that has no where to go but up, Domi and Duclair are bringing the excitement back into a franchise that saw Teemu Selanne post 76 goals his rookie season in 1992-93. Hockey is growing in Arizona, so let’s hope that these two will light the spark in the desert.
The Coyotes return to action Thursday, November 5th versus Colorado and should be well rested coming off 6 days rest.
Nick Lamoureux
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- Duclair and Domi – Arizona’s Dynamic Duo - November 5, 2015
