Domi’s Back Surgery Leaves Toronto Forward Unable to Walk

Domi's Back Surgery Leaves Toronto Forward Unable to Walk

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi underwent back surgery to address a condition he played through during the 2024-25 season, and the procedure produced serious complications that left him temporarily unable to walk, according to a report by the Toronto Sun. The club announced on May 25 that Domi would be sidelined indefinitely due to complications arising from the operation, without disclosing the nature of the surgery or specifying a recovery timeline.

Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons reported that Domi selected his own surgeon rather than the physician preferred by the Maple Leafs – a decision described as not uncommon in professional sports – but that the outcome was not deemed successful. Simmons wrote that Domi’s inability to walk in the days following surgery “created significant alarm” and that his availability for the coming season remains in doubt. The Maple Leafs have not publicly elaborated beyond their initial statement.

The severity of the news stands in contrast to Domi’s workload across the regular season, in which he appeared in 80 games and posted 12 goals and 36 points. The 31-year-old Winnipeg native has been a consistent presence in the Toronto lineup since joining the club as a free agent ahead of the 2023-24 season, missing no more than six games in any of his three campaigns with the team. He recorded a career-high 72 points with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2018-19 season and was originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft.

With no timetable attached to his recovery and the nature of spinal complications carrying inherent uncertainty, the Maple Leafs face an unresolved personnel question heading into the offseason. The club has not indicated whether they intend to seek external medical evaluation or plan any roster moves in response to Domi’s status.