Stu Cowan: Former Canadiens Max Domi, Evgenii Dadonov shine with Stars

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The Dallas Stars have superior to the Western Convention closing with a few former Canadiens taking part in key roles.

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That might be an excellent omen for the Stars with Sport 1 of the convention closing towards the Golden Knights slated for Friday in Las Vegas (8:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports activities).

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The one time the Stars gained the Stanley Cup, in 1999, their roster included former Canadiens Mike Keane, Man Carbonneau, Craig Ludwig and Brian Skrudland. Their GM was former Canadien Bob Gainey and Doug Jarvis, one other former Canadien, was an assistant coach. The Stars added Kirk Muller, one more former Canadien, the following season once they superior to the Stanley Cup closing once more earlier than shedding to the New Jersey Devils.

The 2 former Canadiens with the Stars this yr are Max Domi and Evgenii Dadonov.

With 3-8-11 totals in 13 video games, Domi ranks third in playoff scoring with the Stars behind Roope Hintz (9-10-19) and Jason Robertson (2-10-12). Dadonov has 4-5-9 totals.

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The Stars are the sixth NHL crew for the 28-year-old Domi, who performed his first two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes earlier than being acquired by the Canadiens in the summertime of 2018 in alternate for Alex Galchenyuk. After two seasons with the Canadiens, Domi was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets in alternate for Josh Anderson. Columbus traded Domi to the Carolina Hurricanes forward of final season’s NHL commerce deadline, he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent final summer season and was then traded to the Stars forward of this season’s commerce deadline.

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The Canadiens acquired Dadonov final summer season from the Vegas Golden Knights in alternate for Shea Weber and the final 4 years of his contract that carries an annual salary-cap hit of $7.857 million. Weber stays on long-term injured reserve and isn’t anticipated to play once more, that means his wage doesn’t depend towards a crew cap. The Golden Knights traded Weber to the Coyotes in February.

The Canadiens traded Dadonov to the Stars in February in alternate for Denis Gurianov.

After buying Domi from the Blackhawks — together with goalie Dylan Wells — in alternate for goalie Anton Khudobin and a second-round decide on the 2025 NHL Draft, Stars GM Jim Nill mentioned: “We’re excited so as to add a participant of Max’s calibre to our lineup. His offence this season speaks for itself, however he’ll additionally present vitality, grit and a veteran presence as we proceed our push to the postseason.”

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Domi had 18-31-49 totals in 60 video games with the Blackhawks after signing a one-year, US$3-million contract. He solely had 2-5-7 totals in 20 regular-season video games with the Stars, however within the playoffs has displayed the kind of offence he confirmed throughout his first season with the Canadiens when he had 28-44-72 totals in 82 video games, setting profession highs in targets, assists and factors.

After buying Dadonov from the Canadiens, Nill mentioned: “Evgenii is a talented ahead that may play wherever in our lineup. Recording 20 or extra targets in 4 of his earlier 5 seasons, he’s a confirmed goal-scorer on the NHL degree and can bolster our offensive assault.”

Domi and Dadonov each have one thing to show in the course of the playoffs since they will turn out to be unrestricted free brokers this summer season.

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At age 34, Dadonov didn’t match into the Canadiens’ rebuilding plans with a youthful roster, and he struggled with 4-14-18 totals in 50 video games earlier than being traded to Dallas. Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson performed with Dadonov in Florida and had excessive reward for him earlier than the season began.

“I feel he’s a really underrated participant,” Matheson mentioned. “In Florida he was on a line with Barky (Aleksander Barkov) and Huby (Jonathan Huberdeau) and he was at all times type of the forgotten one of many three. I feel his worth is underrated in that sense. He does a lot down low to maintain cycles alive, to create house for his linemates.”

Domi continues to be an inspiration for individuals like him who need to take care of Kind 1 Diabetes. In his ebook, No Days Off: My Life with Kind 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL, Domi wrote about how Bobby Clarke — who had a Corridor of Fame profession and gained two Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers as a Kind 1 diabetic — impressed him to make it to the NHL.

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After shedding two entrance tooth this season on account of a high-stick throughout a recreation in February with the Blackhawks, Domi now seems to be like Clarke.

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The Stars need to attain the Stanley Cup closing for the fourth time because the franchise moved from Minnesota to Dallas for the 1993-94 season. Pete DeBoer, in his first season as head coach of the Stars after spending three years behind the Golden Knights bench, praised Nill for the strikes he made to usher in Domi and Dadonov.

“Going out and getting vital items and the worth he placed on the significance of becoming into our room on the deadline so far as personalities go together with Domi and Dadonov, I feel was one thing that was actually underrated and an actual key half,” DeBoer advised reporters in Dallas on Tuesday.

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