The Montreal Canadiens have acquired veteran center Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick. The move, made just before the NHL's holiday roster freeze, marks Danault's return to Montreal, where he previously played six seasons. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes expressed confidence that Danault would bounce back in his second stint with the team, despite a down year in Los Angeles.
Danault's acquisition addresses the Canadiens' need for more experience, especially with injuries to key players like Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. Dach is sidelined with a foot injury, and Newhook is out with an ankle injury. The Canadiens have placed both Dach and defenseman Kaiden Guhle on long-term injured reserve to create roster space for Danault.
Jake Evans has also been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Evans' injury further depletes the Canadiens' center depth, making Danault's arrival even more crucial.
Danault, 32, is known as a two-way center and penalty-killing specialist. Hughes highlighted Danault's defensive skills, faceoff prowess, and penalty-killing abilities, which will boost the Canadiens, who currently rank 25th in the league on the penalty kill. Danault's contract, which runs through the 2026-27 season with a $5.5 million average annual value, was acquired without the Kings retaining any salary.
While Danault's offensive production has dipped this season, with only five assists in 30 games for the Kings, he has a proven track record of contributing offensively. He had a career-high 54 points in 2022-23. Hughes also noted Danault's strong performance in the playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers last season, where he scored eight points in six games while primarily tasked with shutting down Connor McDavid.
During the 2024-25 season with the Kings, Danault played 80 games, recording 8 goals and 35 assists with a plus-20 rating. Despite the lower goal total compared to his 27 goals in 2021-22, Danault's underlying stats showed his continued value. He led the Kings in even-strength assists (31) and ranked high in expected goals.
Several analysts have suggested potential linemates for Danault in his return to Montreal. One proposal involves pairing him with Josh Anderson and Alexandre Texier, aiming to replicate the success Danault had with Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar during his previous stint with the Canadiens.
Danault's return has been met with excitement, especially within his family. His wife expressed positive feelings about returning to Montreal and raising their children in Quebec.
With the Canadiens looking to solidify their playoff position, Danault's experience and all-around game could provide a significant boost. His ability to contribute defensively, win faceoffs, and chip in offensively makes him a valuable addition to the team. While the Canadiens will need to integrate him into their lineup and system, the organization is optimistic that Danault can rediscover his form and become a key contributor once again.
