Blue Jackets won't protect Domi in expansion draft

Max Domi's days with the Columbus Blue Jackets may be numbered.

The club will expose the forward in Wednesday's expansion draft, reports The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

However, Columbus isn't hoping to lose Domi during the proceedings, according to Portzline, who adds that Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is betting Domi's injured shoulder will dissuade the Seattle Kraken from taking the six-year veteran.

Domi collected only nine goals and 15 assists over 54 games with the Blue Jackets this season. He underwent surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder in June and is likely to be out for the first month or two of 2021-22. He was also made a healthy scratch by then-head coach John Tortorella in April after multiple on-ice outbursts.

Columbus acquired Domi in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Josh Anderson in October. The Blue Jackets signed Domi to a two-year contract with a $5.3-million cap hit shortly after landing him.

Domi posted career highs with 28 goals and 44 assists while playing all 82 games for the Canadiens in 2018-19.

All NHL teams were required to submit their protected lists by 5 p.m. ET on Saturday. The league will release the lists at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.