It was a strange day for Max Domi.
After the morning skate before Thursday’s 5-2 home loss to the Dallas Stars, Domi was coming to grips with the fact childhood idol and erstwhile linemate Patrick Kane had been traded and was set to make his New York Rangers debut.
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By Thursday night Domi was the subject of his own trade: The United Center visitors acquired the left wing on the eve of the NHL trade deadline.
The Hawks received a second-round pick in 2025 and journeyman goaltender Anton Khudobin. The Stars also received goalie prospect Dylan Wells. Khudobin will report to Rockford.
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“You develop friendships with guys, Kaner being here for 16 years and done a lot of great things,” Seth Jones said after the loss. “And then Domes came in and was a big part of our team, not only on the ice but off the ice. Guys enjoyed being around him.
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“Not just those two guys, but all the guys we’ve traded away. It’s emotional for everyone. It’s a business and we knew this week was coming, so to speak. This summer, I would say.”
The Hawks have 14 picks in the first two rounds of next three drafts, including six first-rounders if certain conditions are met.
The Stars have one of the NHL’s most potent top lines in Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, but their second line has been inconsistent. They acquired Evgenii Dadonov from the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday for Denis Gurianov and half of Dadonov’s salary retained. He was slotted into the second line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, but the Stars don’t have much reliable scoring depth beyond that.
Domi, who turned 28 on Thursday, had 18 goals and 31 assists in 60 games with the Hawks this season, including three goals and two assists in two games against the Stars.
Asked whether Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson had informed him of anything in the works, Domi said: “We’re working through some things, but we’ll see.”
Until then he was going to focus on the game against the Stars and push Friday’s trade deadline out of his mind.
“As of right now I’m sitting here talking to you, so that’s really all I’m concerned about,” he said. “Once I get up from this chair and walk away, I’ll think about that. I’m just trying to be wherever my two feet are right now.”