The Montreal Canadiens have a leg to base their decision for Max Domi on

The Montreal Canadiens have to decide whether Max Domi should play when the NHL resumes, but Kaapo Kakko getting the green light should sway things.

The Montreal Canadiens haven’t been as active in Phase 2 as most teams, but they still have players practicing in Brossard. The likes of Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, Charles Hudon and Michael McNiven have been taking to the ice preparing for the start of the season being particular about the rules that come with Phase 2. However, there is still a mystery when it comes to Max Domi and whether he’ll be able to play with the team or not.

Marc Bergevin addressed this in his press conference after Gary Bettman detailed the events of the Return to Play plan weeks ago. The Habs general manager rightly told media that if team doctors said it wouldn’t be safe for Domi to play, then he wouldn’t. Domi is a type-1 diabetic, and it may not make him more susceptible to COVID-19, but the symptoms he experiences if he is infected could be worse because of it.

Therefore, the Montreal Canadiens are doing the right thing in trending along the line of caution.

Domi isn’t the only type-1 diabetic in the league. So is 2019 second overall pick Kaapo Kakko who just recently got the green light from the New York Rangers to join the team. According to the team president John Davidson, Kakko has tested negative, and the organization feels that as long as he follows protocol, he should be alright.

Kakko was one of the most buzz-triggering players heading into the season back in October after setting records overseas in Finland. Unfortunately, the year didn’t have the same electricity he was expected to bring. He did put up 10 goals and 13 assists, which isn’t horrible, and perhaps he can use the Stanley Cup Qualifier to improve his perception.

With the Rangers letting Kakko play with the team, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Domi get the nod as well.

If the Montreal Canadiens are to have any success against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 25-year-old will be an important piece as he’ll likely line up against Evgeni Malkin. At the same time, he has a lot to prove as this season wasn’t nearly as dominant as last season, and he is a pending RFA.

There is one thing that the Rangers said in their statement, which I believe the Habs will continue to mimic once the time comes to make a decision on Domi. Right now, it seems as if things are comfortable enough for Kakko to play, but if things change, Davidson said he is not playing. I trust Bergevin and company will have the same resolve if they initially let Domi join the team before things start to become more concerning.

That said, you have to think about what the 11 cases in the NHL have done to those decisions.

Could it get to the point where the Montreal Canadiens deem it isn’t safe for Max Domi? Or better yet, does Domi take himself out of the equation?