Montreal Canadiens: Phillip Danault’s increased role this season
In his second season with the Montreal Canadiens, Phillip Danualt will have to prove himself even more than in 2016-17, and there will be added challenges to boot.
Phillip Danault has been widely regarded as one of the best prospects in the Montreal Canadiens system since being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in February of 2016. Last season, he got the chance to play his first full NHL season.
The centre had a strong season, finishing with 40 points on the year, good for sixth in team scoring. Danualt also made it into all six of Montreal’s playoff games. He had two assists in the series against the New York Rangers.
However, last season, he spent the majority of his time playing alongside the Habs top talent.
According to DobberHockey’s Line Combination tool, Danault spent 38 percent of the season playing with Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov.
The latter has obviously left the team and the former looks like, by most predictions, he will be playing with Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher.
Where will he be playing this season?
This leaves Danault playing as the second line centre on the Canadiens roster this season. He will most likely be flanked by Artturi Lehkonen and offseason acquisition Jonathan Drouin.
As the centre, a lot of pressure is going to fall on Danault to help Drouin with the production on that line.
With the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, Drouin set a career high in points with 53 in 73 games. Lehkonen could be looking at a big season as well. The fellow second-year man finished last year with 18 goals and 28 points.
Danault also purchased a synthetic ice surface in order to help up his training regimen and increase his production this season.
“I bought a big synthetic ice surface at the beginning of the summer, so I try to work on my skills as much as I can. I want to get better there. I always wanted to be better offensively,” said Danault, who notched 13 goals and 40 points in his first full NHL campaign last season. “I can’t skate on it, so it’s really just for my hands. I’ve got a goalie figure in there. I can shoot real pucks and I can shoot as hard as I can. I also have a passer. But I probably stickhandle way more than I shoot.”
It’s a great sign that Danault is working to improve certain aspects of his game. Where most players look to bulk up in the offseason, he is trying to better himself in areas he feels he needs to be better in.
He will have the chance to show off his new and improved hands and shot in training camp and the preseason before the Habs open their season.
This will be a show-me year as Danault is looking to get paid as he becomes a restricted free agent on July 1st.
Next: Montreal Canadiens: Giving the Goal-Scorers Their Own Song