Hurricanes acquire forward Max Domi from Columbus Blue Jackets

OFFICIAL STATEMENT - 6:30

RALEIGH, NC - Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired forward Max Domi and defenseman Tyler Inamoto in a three-team trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers. Columbus will retain 50 percent of Domi’s salary, and Florida will retain 25 percent. As part of the deal, Carolina has also traded defenseman Aidan Hreschuk to Columbus and forward Egor Korshkov to Florida.

“We’re excited to add Max to our organization,” said Waddell. “His skillset and competitiveness complement our group, and we think he will be a great fit.”

Domi, 27, has recorded 32 points (9g, 23a) in 53 NHL games with the Blue Jackets this season. The 5’10”, 194-pound forward has registered 307 points (99g, 208a) in 482 career NHL games with Arizona, Montreal and Columbus since making his debut with the Coyotes on Oct. 9, 2015. Prior to turning professional, Domi earned 331 points (126g, 205a) in 244 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) games with London. He captained the Knights in 2014-15 and helped them capture the back-to-back OHL championships in 2012 and 2013, posting 41 points (15g, 26a) in 40 playoff games over that span. The Winnipeg, Man., native has represented his home country at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning goal at both tournaments. He also skated for Team Ontario at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning bronze. Selected by the Coyotes in the first round, 12th overall, of the 2013 NHL Draft, Domi ranks eighth among his draft class in career points, seventh in assists and 11th in goals.

Inamoto, 22, earned two assists in 26 NCAA games during his fifth collegiate season with Wisconsin in 2021-22. The 6’2”, 194-pound defenseman served as one of the Badgers’ alternate captains for the second consecutive season. Inamoto previously spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2015-17. The Barrington, Ill., native was selected by Florida in the fifth round, 133rd overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Hreschuk, 19, registered eight points (1g, 7a) in 37 NCAA games with Boston College in 2021-22. The 5’11”, 187-pound defenseman spent the previous two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Long Beach, Calif., native was selected by Carolina in the third round, 94th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. Korshkov, 25, recorded 22 points (11g, 11a) in 44 regular-season games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this season and has added one goal in four playoff games. He has registered 121 points (52g, 69a) in 275 career KHL games, all with Lokomotiv. The 6’4”, 181-pound forward has scored one goal in his only career NHL game with Toronto in 2019-20. Selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round, 31st overall, of the 2016 NHL Draft, Korshkov was acquired by Carolina along with David Warsofsky in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk on Feb. 15, 2021.

According to general manager Don Waddell, the Carolina Hurricanes made one deal at the trade deadline and that was to acquire upcoming UFA, forward Max Domi from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

While the traded isn’t official, as it has not gone through the central registry yet, the move should become official relatively soon. We will keep the article updated when more information becomes available.

According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Blue Jackets will be retaining some of Domi’s $5.3 million salary on the deal. In addition, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN reported that the Florida Panthers were going to be involved as well to retain more salary.

In return, it has been reported by Elliotte Friedman that so far Carolina sent 2021 third-round pick, defenseman Aidan Hreschuk to Columbus.

Domi has nine goals and 32 points in 53 games this season, and has been known for being an aggressive and feisty player who takes a lot of penalties.

Domi is three years removed from his top season, 2018-19, where he set a career high in goals (28) and points (72) playing for the Montreal Canadiens.

He’s struggled to live up to those totals since, being traded to Columbus in 2019-20 for Josh Anderson, but the Hurricanes hope that he can compliment the top-nine.

UPDATE - 4:57

According to Aaron Portzline, Columbus will be retaining 50% of Domi’s salary and Florida will be picking up 25% of it.

In addition to Hreschuk, the Hurricanes are also sending LW Egor Korshkov who was obtained in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk last February.