NHL Trade: Canadiens, Coyotes hope change of scenery benefits Alex Galchenyuk, Max Domi

A change of scenery could do Max Domi and Alex Galchenyuk a lot of good moving forward.

The Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes are hoping a change of scenery will benefit two young forwards loaded with potential. With most of the sports world still fawning over Cristiano Rinaldo, Arizona quietly traded Max Domi to Montreal for Alex Galchenyuk on Friday night.

Drafted third overall in 2012, Galchenyuk has had a rough go of things in Montreal. He’s failed to crack the 20-goal plateau in the last two seasons after scoring 30 goals in 2015-16. The newest member of the Coyotes is only 24-years-old and has two years remaining on a contract that carries a $4.9 million cap hit.

Domi was taken 12th overall by the Coyotes one year later. However, while Galchenyuk already has six years of NHL experience under his belt, Domi has just three. His 52-point rookie campaign remains his best season as a pro. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent, but expected to sign a new deal with Montreal in the coming days.

It’s no secret that a lot of pressure comes with playing in Montreal. Media coverage is unlike any other NHL city and the fanbase is desperate for a winner. He was tasked with much offensive responsibility, but couldn’t deliver. Playing on the wing instead of center and moving up-and-down the depth chart probably didn’t help. His name has been in the rumor mill for well over a year, which had to weigh heavy on his mind.

That pressure if off in Arizona. The Coyotes are expected to be at the bottom of the league once again, but a duo of Clayton Keller and Galchenyuk will be fun to watch. We may see a guy playing with a confidence that has looked lost in the past two seasons.

Domi will now inherit some of the pressure, but much of that depends on his contract. If he signs a short bridge deal worth no more than $3 million, media won’t be going after him the way they did Galchenyuk for failing to live up to his $4.9 million deal. Domi can be the center Montreal was hoping they had in the man they just dealt to Arizona. The supporting cast in Montreal is better than what he had in Arizona, although not by much based on last season.

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Montreal is more willing to spend in free agency. What we see of the Canadiens depth chart today likely isn’t what we’ll see a month from now. The urgency to “win now” is great in Montreal, putting Domi in a better hockey situation from a competition standpoint.

Both players are still young and loaded with offensive talent. It didn’t work out in their former organizations. But a drastic change in weather could be what each player needs.