Domi: 'I didn't really know where I stood' with Julien

Newly acquired Columbus Blue Jackets forward Max Domi says his role with the Montreal Canadiens under head coach Claude Julien became unclear during the postseason.

"The playoff situation was tough ... wasn't much communication there and I didn't really know where I stood," Domi said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

Domi ranked third on the Canadiens with 44 points during the regular season, but he took a backseat during the playoffs. The 25-year-old was 14th on the club in postseason ice time (14:21) and recorded three assists over 10 games while frequently playing on the fourth line.

Julien defended his decision during the playoffs, saying that Domi's unit shouldn't be considered a traditional fourth line.

"I don't think Max is disappointed at all by his linemates," Julien told reporters. "When people label them as a fourth line, I never said they were a fourth line. I think at the end of the day what I've tried to do is balance my lines out."

When asked directly about his relationship with Julien, the 5-foot-10 pivot declined to answer, according to La Presse's Richard Labbe.

The Canadiens traded Domi to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday for power forward Josh Anderson.