Max Domi has always been regarded as an explosive addition on the ice, a player who’s never afraid to be involved physically. However, his most recent attack on Florida Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 4 of the playoffs has caused commotion again, reigniting discussions regarding his previous offenses.
While Domi pushed Barkov hard into the boards after the final whistle, fans and analysts started digging into his past indiscretions. He is a player who has always been identified as a firebrand on the ice, one never afraid to play the physical game. But how many times has Domi overstepped the line—and paid for it?
Max Domi’s NHL Fines and Suspensions Over the Years
Forward Max Domi from the Toronto Maple Leafs has been fined twice and suspended twice in his career in the NHL, a record that keeps his name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Domi was first suspended in March 2016 when he was playing for the Arizona Coyotes. He was given a one-game suspension for causing a fight in the last few minutes of regulation, in contrast to NHL Rule 46.22. Several years later, in September 2018, Domi was in a bad place again.
In a preseason match against the Montreal Canadiens, he sucker-punched Panthers’ defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Although it was not reflected in regular-season statistics, this incident handed him a suspension for the rest of the preseason, raising eyebrows across the league.
Craig Berube on Max Domi’s hit:
Do you agree or disagree with coach?
(via: @NHL_On_TNT) pic.twitter.com/lhsrjycDLF
— TSN (@TSN_Sports)
Fast forward to 2025, and the infractions have gone on. In January, Domi was found guilty of deliberately elbowing Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway and was fined the maximum of $5000, as stipulated under the National Hockey League’s collective bargaining agreement.
Then, in May, during Game 4 of the second-round playoff series against the Florida crew, he landed a dangerous boarding hit from behind on Panthers captain Barkov. The hit was immediately after the final whistle; hence, it caused commotion. Although many felt that it should earn him a suspension, Domi ended up paying another $5,000 fine, fanning debates on how the NHL handles player discipline.
His recent offense has been met with tremendous backlash, with fans condemning the league for favoring him and being inconsistent. Considering Domi’s history, it can be said that the NHL should have been harder on him for a hit that seemed like it was more malicious than an accident.
Pending the postseason ramping up, the controversy of his disciplinary history remains a subplot—one that calls into question not only his play but the league’s bottom line on disciplinary measures.
