Domi Confident Coyotes Will Improve Next Season

GLENDALE -- Max Domi is closely watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That's because he senses he and his Coyotes teammates soon will be participants.
"I watch pretty much every game," Domi said, not too long ago on 'Exit Day' inside Gila River Arena. "I haven't played a playoff game yet in my career, but that's the best hockey and what we all play for. You pick up something in every game. You're watching the best players compete on every shift, and that's how you learn."

Domi set a career-high with 36 assists this season and ranked third on the team with 45 points. But the third-year pro scored only nine goals - nine fewer than his rookie season - and four of his goals were empty-netters. Overall, he was not pleased with his performance.
"Unfortunately, it was one of those seasons where I wasn't the player I would liked to have been," Domi said. "You have to find ways to figure out where you went wrong, understand that, and not sulk about it. You have to accept it and make sure it doesn't happen again next year. With that being said, I'm excited with how we finished at the end of year. Everyone was playing their best hockey of the year, so you take that momentum and bring it back for next year."

Domi returned to form late in the season when he notched four goals and 14 assists over the final 20 games. Management noticed his resiliency, and it will be a factor as contract negotiations intensify this off-season. Domi, 23, is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.
Domi still is considered a key piece to the puzzle as the Coyotes continue their rebuild. Like his teammates and coaches, Domi is excited about the future.
"I think we all understand what we need to do to get better; take the summer seriously and come back as a revamped organization," Domi said. "We're going to be ready to play and make a run for the playoffs, and will be a good team next year ... Everyone has a different standard for where they need to be when they come to training camp. You have to figure out what that standard is and how much training you have to do, whether it's on-ice, off-ice, and get yourself ready to go. Everyone in here is a pro and knows what it takes to win and be a successful team, so we're totally faithful in that and it's going to happen."

Domi plans to spend some down time in Toronto early in the off-season, but he expects to start missing hockey very soon.
"I will probably get the itch (to play) tomorrow," Domi said. "It's healthy to take some time off, whether it's a week or a couple of weeks. For me, it will probably be a couple of weeks and then I'll be back in the gym doing something because you'll drive yourself crazy just watching playoff hockey. It's a little bit depressing."
Domi notched three three-point games this season, but he said his most memorable moments involved being part of emotional road games that transcended ordinary competition - one in Vancouver and one in Las Vegas, as that city and the NHL came together just days after a horrific mass shooting had occurred.
"That last (road) game in Vancouver was really cool," Domi said. "To see two guys like the Sedins, that were such good hockey players but also so highly respected across the League and across the sport, play in their last home game, and be a part of that and shake their hands, is pretty special and something I will never forget. That was number one for me.
"Number two is that whole Vegas situation at the start of the year," said Domi, who joined his teammates as they stood behind the Vegas players during the national anthem. "…The atmosphere there was second to none and something that I'll never forget."