Calm down, don’t blow a gasket. He would have scored 72 from the wing, he’s just a great hockey player, that’s why he is able to thrive offensively at center. But defensively he’s not a centerman and he’s not a natural face off man. Poehling is a natural prototypical centerman. Kotkaniemi is a natural prototypical centerman. I know we have been starved for centers for so long that we forget what a real centerman plays like, and it’s not Domi. Max would be even better on the LW with a big fast skilled player centering him. Domi plays a Kucherov style. What are you so worried about? Domi will still be on the ice, we aren’t losing him, we’re putting him in his natural position. I’m sure Kucherov could play center too if needed. But Tampa has real centers, just like we do now. It’s real and it’s time to embrace it.
Personally, I think that Domi plays a solid all around game -- even defensively. He is at 44% in the F/O department, but improved as the season wore on. He's just turned 24 in March and is still progressing. He's definitely a top-6 C by all standards in this league. Plenty of other productive top-6 Cs in the NHL are also not so great at F/Os.
That said, Poehling, Kotkaniemi and Danault are natural Cs, for sure. Nobody knows for sure when and if they can produce at Domi's pace, however.
If Domi plays LW, I hope it is on a line with Kotkaniemi who isn't the fastest skater. That would leave Domi as the forward that carries the puck int the O-zone and he would still be flying in as a Centerman on the offensive rush. Passing the puck to KK, once we are established in the zone would just allow the Finn to distribute the puck.
I go with a line of Domi -- KK - Suzuki if Domi is back on the wing. Three players that can surely score more than 20 goals (more than 30 for Suzuki, IMO) and can all set up the others.
Drouin on a line with Poehling could be interesting. Maybe a line of Drouin - Poehling - Shaw as an exploitation third line.
Tatar - Danault - Gallagher (Steady two-way line that can produce offensively)
Domi - KK - Suzuki (Passers and scorers galore - keep them guessing line)
Drouin - Poehling - Shaw (Size and/or drive to help Drouin find space on the ice from which to excel)
Lehkonen - Weal - Byron (Defensive line with speed and offensive upside for complementary scoring)
Armia