As the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2023-24 season continues, much of the attention will land on superstars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. However, the Leafs’ recent solid play has also been driven by the Buds’ support players. And two of them – winger Calle Jarnkroc and forward Max Domi – are hitting their stride.
Domi had a terrific performance Saturday night against Pittsburgh, generating one goal and three points that night. The 28-year-old looked as confident as he’s been in a Toronto uniform, and he now has 15 assists and 17 points in 28 games this season. Working on a one-year contract, Domi has much still to prove to Leafs management if he wants to stick around beyond this season, but after a slow start to the year, he looks like a solid investment for his $3-million salary cap hit.
Jarnkroc, meanwhile, has cooled off a little of late, but he still has three assists and five points in his past seven games, and he’s amassed nine assists and 16 points in 28 games this year. The 32-year-old Swede is on pace for a 21-goal, 47-point season – both of which would be career-bests for him – and with a cap hit of $2.1 million, he’d be delighting Leafs GM Brad Treliving with that type of production.
We all know the Leafs are only going to go as far as their ‘Core Four’ group of stars carries them, but the best teams in the league get to that lofty spot in the pecking order in part because they’ve got balance and depth at just about every position. That’s what Toronto needs from its lesser lights. As youngsters Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson continue to acclimate to the NHL level, veterans such as Jarnkroc and Domi take the pressure off the kids as well as the stars by producing points at a pace of 0.50 points-per-game, and that’s what we’re seeing from the duo.
- Feed has no items.
Domi and Jarnkroc have the ability to step up in the lineup when injuries or illnesses become a factor, but for the most part, they’re being paid as third-liners, and they make too much money to be fourth-liners. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe is making expectations on them crystal clear; they needn’t be the first, second or third stars of any particular game, but they do need to make the most of the minutes Keefe gives them to justify their existence in Toronto.
Around Full Press Hockey
NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, Seattle Kraken
NHL: Montreal Canadiens: An Important Tradition
PWHL: In Hainsight: Chevrie Appointed as Head Coach of Montreal’s PWHL Franchise
Full Press Hockey Weekly: Ep 77: Patrick Kane Signs, Goalie Issues, Corey Perry, and More
PODCAST: Final Word on Hockey – S5Ep7 – Winnipeg Jets Surprise The Hockey World
WANT MORE PODCASTS? Check Out Some Of The Latest From Around The FPC Network
Jarnkroc is signed through the 2025-26 campaign, and he has a modified no-trade clause that allows him to designate 10 teams he can veto a trade to. But as it stands, the Leafs have no intention to move him. Jarnkroc’s versatility is a huge plus for Keefe and the coaching staff, and his discipline has given him a team-best plus-13 in the plus/minus category. He rarely gets flustered, and his quiet but focused demeanor provides a great example for Toronto’s younger players to follow.
The machinations of the salary cap necessitate regular roster movement outside of any team’s core talents, and the Leafs are no different in that regard. That said, with Jarnkroc signed for the foreseeable future, and with Domi looking ready to carve out a longer-term place for himself in Toronto, the Leafs have a golden opportunity to lock up cost-effective secondary components beyond this season. Jarnkroc and Domi don’t need to do all the heavy lifting for the Buds to thrive, but so long as they contribute steadily, Leafs brass will be extremely happy with them.
Playing in a hockey mecca is no easy feat, and Domi and Jarnkroc’s success should be appreciated by Leafs fans. They’re easing the demands on the rest of Toronto’s roster, and helping the Leafs stay near the top of the Atlantic Division. If they continue to get better-than-average production, Toronto will continue to be one of the league’s top-10 teams.