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Montreal Canadiens: A Look At The Habs Upcoming UFAs

By Patrick Lortie

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 05: Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens stretches during the warm-up prior to the game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 05: Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens stretches during the warm-up prior to the game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 30: Phillip Danault Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 30: Phillip Danault Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Phillip Danault

Danault has finally become the player the Chicago Blackhawks thought he would be when he was drafted 26th overall in the 2011 draft – a reliable defensive centerman who can play against the opponent’s top line.

The Habs boast what can potentially be an incredible trio of players down the middle with Danault, Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The issue of course is one of inexperience with Suzuki being 21 and in his sophomore year, while KK is still only 20 years old and in his 3rd year in the NHL. It’s only normal that Danault, 28 and the much more seasoned of the three, wants to be treated as the team’s top center.

Pros: Danault’s ability to shut down some of the league’s top superstars is finally getting some recognition. He finished 6th in votes for the Selke trophy last year and is starting to regularly show up in lists of top defensive forwards across the league. When your name starts showing up aside those of Patrice Bergeron, Sean Couturier and Ryan O’Reily, you know you’re doing something good with your life.

Cons: Unlike the players mentioned above, Danault is however not a 1st line center. He’s barely a second line unless he’s supported with good wingers like he has been with Tatar and Brendan Gallagher in the past few seasons. Danault will give you a dozen goals and 40-50 points with some good wingers but he has shown that if he doesn’t have that offensive support, he won’t give you those points.

Prediction: RE-SIGNS ON A SHORT TERM CONTRACT (2 years $8.5 million)

While Danault has been extremely usefull for the Canadiens on and off the ice, he isn’t a superstar but he isn’t completely disposable either. Everyone needs this kind of player on their team. Rumors launched by certain members of the French media suggested that Danault rejected a 6 year $30 million contract. However reports surfaced that the actual offer was 5 years $25 million. Danault’s clan counter-offered with a 6 year $33 million contract which was ultimately rejected. His agent then made a public claim that negotiations never even took place. So as usual, the rumor mill is hot in Montreal.

Is Danault worth $5.5 million a year? Absolutely not. Would he get that amount if he were to test free agency? Probably. Is he going to leave Montreal? I highly doubt it. While Danault might be trying to stand firm and demand to get paid, on one end you will have executives telling him that the cap is not changing and he is not going to get paid like Jean-Gabriel Pageau (6 years $30 million), while on the other you have a wife that is happy to be home and raising their young family.

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