The last time a prominent Montreal Canadiens player fired NHL player agent Patr Brisson, it was Max Pacioretty not long after an attempted trade to the Los Angeles Kings and right before he was traded by Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin to the Vegas Golden Knights. So, the fact that another Canadiens forward, Max Domi has fired that same agent and there are tons of trade rumors surrounding the seemingly unhappy center might not mean anything.
Then again, it might mean everything.
According to Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette, Domi has relieved his Brisson of his duties and that’s important to note while trade rumors swirl because Brisson is extremely close with Bergevin. Cowan writes:
A source confirmed Sunday night that Domi has fired agent Pat Brisson, who is a longtime close friend of Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin. Former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty also fired Brisson as his agent two years ago after Bergevin attempted to trade him to the Los Angeles Kings.
Typically, agents get fired for one of two reasons: either the player feels that agent did not acting in their best interest (past tense) or the player feels the agent can’t act in their best interest (future tense). Since Domi has an important offseason coming up, the latter is more likely.
Related: Will the Montreal Canadiens Trade Domi or Danault?
So Now What For Domi?
Domi is a 25-year-old pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. But, he’s in a sticky situation in Montreal.
First, he is likely going to command a bit of a raise. He’s required a $2.9 million qualifying offer and he’s likely to earn more than the $3.15 mill he made last season. The problem is, in Montreal, he’s being shoved to the background where players like Nick Suziuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are taking on more responsibility. And, because Phillip Danault is the team’s current top-line center, it’s not reasonable to believe the Habs will voluntarily pay more than $3 million for a third or fourth-line center.
Second, the Canadiens could always move Domi to the wing, but head coach Claude Julien seemed to shoot down that idea in post-series comments when talking about his future as the coach and where he sees his team next season. Julien said:
“I think Max came in in his first year and was really excited to be in Montreal and I thought that excitement carried him through the first season, there’s no doubt there. We, as an organization, like him better as a centreman. I think the fact that he’s a good skater, that he can move around suits him much better (at centre).
That doesn’t exactly sound like Domi’s future with the Canadiens is set in stone.
Expect a Domi Trade in the Coming Weeks
Essentially, what all this means, is that more than likely, Domi will be traded. When he is, he wants to have the right representation.
It could be a trying offseason for the still young and talented center. He’s going to need someone who can watch his back and there’s certainly speculation that having a close friend of the GM and his agent wasn’t the best strategy. Pacioretty felt the same way and it turned out pretty well for him.
Do we know for certain this is what is going on? No. Domi has not spoken with the media since the Canadiens were eliminated from the playoffs by the Phildelphia Flyers. Still, the pieces fit.
Perhaps more interesting, some speculation is that Domi may hire controversial agent Allan Walsh.
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