Max Domi may have played his last game with the Toronto Maple Leafs

The 31-year-old forward went on long-term injured reserve on Sept. 30 alongside Dakota Joshua, months after the club revealed that complications from offseason surgery would sideline him indefinitely. That uncertainty has stretched from May all the way into the regular season.

He played all 80 games last season and finished with 12 goals and 36 points, though it was arguably a down year by his standards.

Toronto spent the summer reshaping its forward group. The Leafs signed several depth forwards on July 1, acquired Kirill Marchenko from Columbus, and added Aatu Räty from Vancouver in mid-October.

Vinni Lettieri has also entered the lineup. Every move made the logjam tougher to crack for a player who has yet to play this season.

The cap picture matters too. Domi carries a $3.75 million cap hit through 2027-28, and parking him and Joshua on LTIR gives Toronto roughly $7 million in combined flexibility. That cushion is useful now, but it also reduces any urgency to make room for him.

General manager John Chayka said over the summer that he expected Domi to be a big part of the roster, and that could still hold if he heals fully.

The problem is space. David Pagnotta recently said Toronto needs to free up room now and next season, with Joshua the player in focus.

Joshua went on an AHL conditioning loan earlier this month, and any return from LTIR would force a corresponding move, especially with Toronto shopping for a defenseman. In that crowd, Domi's job looks like the easiest one to fill.

Nothing is official, and a full recovery would change the conversation. Still, the signs point toward Toronto moving forward without him, and an eventual exit, whether through a trade or another cap move, would not be a surprise.

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