The Domi Buyout Caper

It’s surprising that the Leaf story eating the most newspaper inches right now is whether or not the team will buy out the remainder of Tie Domi’s contract. Surprising, given that it’s been two weeks since the details of Brian McCabe’s contract were confirmed by both the team and player agent, but there has yet to be a traditional back-slapping official media announcement.

I wouldn’t put it past Ferguson to have leaked the Domi story in order to deflect media focus from the McCabe situation, which looks more like a fiasco with every passing day.

But back to Domi, the official buyout period begins tomorrow, June 15th, at which point, teams may offer a player 2/3rds of his remaining contract to go away.

Should the Leafs do it? Let’s start with some quick math:

Domi is scheduled to “earn” 1.25 million dollars for the 2006-2007 season. 2/3rds of the contract amounts to $833,333 raided from the coffers of MLSE to effect the buyout.

However, Steve Simmons reports that according to the new CBA, regardless of the buyout settlement, the total of Domi’s original contract would be applicable to the salary cap, spread over two seasons. That amounts to $625,000 per season.

Domi-less for the first time in twelve years, the Leafs would need to replace him with a body. Let’s assume for now that the team goes with somebody earning the league minimum, $450,000 for 2006-2007.

Domi’s cost for 06/07: $1,250,000.
Replacement minimum: 625,000 + 450,000 = $1,075,000.
Savings to the Leafs: $175,000.

Is it worth dumping Domi for pocket change? Simmons intimated that getting rid of Domi would probably upset Sundin.

Woo, did you hear that, Smithers? Sundin is mad at me! Sundin, Sundin!

But I have my doubts. Unless Simmons has a quote substantiating Sundin’s feelings, there is no reason to imagine he would be too upset with the loss of Domi. The only issue Sundin has griped about recently was his ice-time under Pat Quinn, and the need to re-sign McCabe. Paul Maurice decisively addressed the ice-time issue during his first official press conference, and the team seems to be doing what it can to secure McCabe. In general, Sundin cares about winning.

Can Tie help Sundin win?

Domi has been demonstrating an erosion of his abilities ever since his personal high-water mark of the 2002-2003 season, when he scored fifteen goals. He popped a Gretzky-like five this year.

That wouldn’t matter a whole lot if Domi was still beating opposition goons to a pulp if they dared to lay a finger on any of his teammates. Tie was once good for twenty or more dominating fights per season; this year, he dropped the gloves only seven times, the fewest of his career. And after seeing Brian McGrattan humiliate him with a single punch, it’s debatable that he should have danced this season at all.


Until this punch, Rod Brind'Amour was
the ugliest player in the NHL.

Domi finished his season with a -10, one of the worst marks on the team. He played an average of 9:43 of ice-time per game, the lowest of Leaf regulars.

Leadership? Last summer, Domi carped publicly and bitterly to the newspapers when he felt John Ferguson Jr. low-balled him with a contract offer, and then threatened to sign with his golf-buddy Mario Lemieux until Larry Tanenbaum issued the order to give Domi what he wanted. Later this season, Domi complained publicly and vigorously when Pat Quinn dared to bench him, claiming the team needed his veteran stewardship to assist the Leafs’ aborted playoff hopes. In the 18 games following the trade deadline, Domi lit up the scoresheets with 2 points.

Wow - give the man the "C".

It’s possible to point to any other NHL roster and pick a player earning the league minimum who would be just as productive as Domi was this season. No, scratch that. It's possible to pick one from any team earning the minimum who would outperform Domi. Go ahead, pick a team. Guys who can get beaten to a pulp by Brian McGrattan and score five goals a year can be had anywhere, for a lot less than Domi’s salary. And at age 36, there is no reason to expect any improvement in his play next year. Hell, even Don Cherry toned down the calls for Domi to see first-line duty.

For what tangible reason should the Leafs keep Domi?

With respect to everything Domi has meant to the franchise, and it's been a lot, the time has come to bow out with class. If the Leafs mean so much to him, he has to realize it too. A teary press conference in front of a forest of microphones is in order, with Tie snuffling into a hankerchief, and a few mumbles grunted to reporters about how much playing for the Leafs defined who he was. Maybe with Wendel Clark standing supportively behind him. The whole ball of wax.

Yeah. That's how a Leaf hero should retire.