The Max Domi hype keeps building. In Montreal’s 3-2 win over the Canucks on Saturday, Domi picked up an assist on the tying goal, putting the Canadiens into position to win the game late. The goal kind of captured the essence of his season to date: it was lucky as hell.



Domi spins and throws a blind backhand pass into the slot; it happens to bounce in off the foot of Andrew Shaw. Another 5-on-5 point for Domi, whose 3.9 5-on-5 points per 60 minutes puts him second in the NHL, behind only Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson. Add a very good 6.0 points per 60 at 5-on-4 and you have Domi sitting at 24 points through 20 games and whispers in Montreal that the Canadiens have found a number one centre.



Loath though I am to be the bearer of bad news, there’s nothing in the underlying numbers for Domi to suggest that this is the case and plenty to suggest that it isn’t. Let’s start with his on-ice shooting percentage at 5-on-5. Through 20 games, the...