Max Domi said he decided to join the Montreal Canadiens for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers after extensive conversations with doctors about the risks of contracting the coronavirus with Type 1 diabetes.
"This is my decision," the forward said Tuesday after his second practice of training camp. "I'm not telling other Type 1 diabetics just to follow my lead here. I think everyone's got to make their own decision based on their own experience and what them and their family come to.
"But for me, it was a decision that I thought long and hard about, obviously weighed every option, and I'm here now and super happy to be here and can't wait to get started."
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, the hormone needed to allow sugar to enter cells to produce energy, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Domi said he wears a Dexcom sensor that allows him to see his blood sugar every five minutes, but there is not enough evidence to support the idea that Type 1 diabetics who are in good shape and meticulously monitor their blood sugar are at less risk for COVID-19 complications.
"I'd like to think I've got pretty good control over my blood sugars, and that helps," Domi said. "That being said, there's no data saying that if you have good control, if you don't …
"Obviously it will affect it more in one way or another, but there's no way of really knowing. You're guessing at that point. Personally, all I can do is just make sure I'm doing everything on my end to keep my blood sugars very stable."
Domi and the Canadiens agreed when training camp opened July 13 to wait 7-10 days before deciding if he would participate. He said he spoke to his own doctors, as well as doctors affiliated with the team, the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, while skating on his own a limited amount for safety reasons.
The NHL and the NHLPA agreed to strict health and safety protocols in the Return to Play Plan, which includes 24 teams restricted to Secure Zones in two hub cities -- 12 Eastern Conference teams in Toronto, 12 Western Conference teams in Edmonton.
The Canadiens (31-31-9, .500 points percentage) enter the Qualifiers as the No. 12 seed in the East and will play the No. 5 seed, the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-23-6, .623), in a best-of-5 series at Scotiabank Arena starting Aug. 1.
The winner will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the loser will have a chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery on Aug. 10.
"The way they've handled this and how safe it is, is really incredible," Domi said while speaking to reporters on a video call, a mask on the table in front of him. "They're doing everything they possibly can, and there really is no safer place to be.
"I'm super confident that they're doing everything on their end, and we've just got to do everything on our end with all the little things like wearing masks and whatnot and staying as clean as possible and following all the rules and guidelines put in place for a reason."
Domi said his first day of camp was a bit of a grind, but he felt 100 times better Tuesday.
"Super excited, and just trying to get better day by day here and hopefully be good by the end of the week and definitely ready for Game 1," he said.
Domi was third on the Canadiens in scoring with 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 71 games before the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He is in the second season of a two-year, $6.3 million contract ($3.15 million average annual value) and can become a restricted free agent after this season.
The five-year NHL veteran is trying to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time.
"The risk that he's taking is obviously different, and it means a lot to me personally and the guys in the room that he's here doing it with us even with that risk," defenseman Ben Chiarot said. "That's not an easy decision for him or his family to make, and I'm happy that he's here. He's a well-liked guy in the room, and he's an important part of our team."
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