An offseason back operation could leave a star player on the Toronto Maple Leafs off the ice for the near future after the procedure reportedly went ‘terribly wrong.’
Maple Leafs forward Max Domi underwent an operation this offseason after his 13th season in the NHL, having played through an injury.
However, last Monday, the Leafs announced Domi would be ‘out indefinitely’ and ‘will continue working with the club’s medical staff and will be re-evaluated at the start of training camp.’
The latest twist came in a report published Sunday in the Toronto Sun, claiming that Domi ‘chose his own surgeon to do the operation rather than the one the Maple Leafs had in mind.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the Maple Leafs and Domi’s representation at talent agency The Team, Judd Moldaver, for comment on this matter.
While a player choosing their surgeon isn’t that uncommon, the outlet says that ‘something went terribly wrong with the surgery.’
Toronto Maple Leafs star Max Domi reportedly suffered complications from back surgery
Domi reportedly picked his own surgeon ‘rather than the one the Leafs had in mind’
But the surgery ‘went terribly wrong’ and Domi ‘could not walk’ in the days after the procedure
The outlet reports that Domi ‘could not walk in the days following the surgery, which created significant alarm.’
This report added that Domi’s status for the upcoming 2026-27 season ‘remains in doubt.’
The 31-year-old played all but two games this season, scoring 12 goals and 36 points alongside 95 penalty minutes for a Maple Leafs team that aggressively under-performed.
Domi has two years left on his contract that carries an average annual value of $3.75million.
While his name was subject to trade rumors, this injury coupled with the arrival of new executives for the Maple Leafs will likely change that.
Domi and his father, former NHL player Tie Domi, are close with new Maple Leafs senior executive Mats Sundin. Additionally, Max played under the Leafs’ new general manager, John Chayka, with the Arizona Coyotes.
