Coyotes rookie Max Domi quietly making name for himself

Max Domi returns to the Air Canada Centre Monday night as an NHL rookie and one of the most celebrated youngsters in the league.

And when his Arizona Coyotes face the Maple Leafs two of Toronto’s players — Scott Harrington and Nazem Kadri — will be familiar with the 20-year-old, whose great start to the season has some ranking him on par with Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel in early season top rookie chatter.

“I know Max pretty well, he lived a couple of streets over from us in London, I drove him to the rink every day, I got to know him. I’m sure he’s pumped up for this game, it’s going to fun to face him,” said Harrington, who played two seasons with Domi as part of some strong lineups with the OHL’s London Knights two years ago.

Harrington has seen Domi from his late cut at the world juniors two years ago to his standout performance at the juniors last Christmas. The Leaf rookie knows the work Domi has put in to reach the success he has so far.

On an Arizona team that has rebranded itself through youth, Domi currently leads all rookie scorers with nine points. In the early going, where McDavid and Eichel have attracted the most attention, it’s Domi who has ascended into top rookie discussions, thanks in part to a tip of the cap from former NHL great Teemu Selanne, who said Domi could surprise the hockey world in the Calder Trophy race for rookie of the year.

Kadri, Harrington and Domi were all part of the hockey machine that was the London Knights.

“I see him lots in the summer, some of his buddies in London are some of my buddies too,” Kadri said.

Domi also has formed a strong bond in Arizona with fellow rookie Anthony Duclair, with the two being dubbed the “Killer D’s.”

Many hockey forecasters are anticipating the time when another hugely talented junior — Erie centre Dylan Strome — cracks the Coyotes lineup and forms a line with Domi and Duclair.

All three were integral to Team Canada’s gold-medal performance at the last world juniors. For now, Domi and Duclair skate with veteran centre Martin Hanzal, a solid move by Coyotes coach Dave Tippett.

“Dave’s got them playing with a good veteran centre,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.

Domi will write the first entry into his career chapter against the Leafs Monday, but his ties to the organization extend back to his minor hockey days.

From the time he was an obvious talent through bantam and midget hockey, former Leaf Tie Domi continually reminded son Max to watch and learn from the best in the NHL, what they do with the puck and when.

“He’s not in awe of anything,” Tippett told NHL.com. “His speed and skill stand out . . . he’s ready to play in the (NHL). There’s still a maturity process you have to go through, but a player that’s been around the game, around the dressing rooms, around NHL players his whole life, that’s certainly an advantage.”

Along the way, Domi has also dealt with Type-1 diabetes, a condition diagnosed at age 12; Domi wears No. 16 in honour of Bobby Clarke, who captained Philadelphia and forged a Hall of Fame career as a Type-1 diabetic.