Montreal Canadiens: Strong Playoff Performances Could Lead Seattle To Pass On Jake Allen

Phillip Danault

Phillip Danault is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end so there isn’t a big rush for the Canadiens to re-sign for next season, as they would then have to protect him in the expansion draft.

However, the Kraken will be allowed to negotiate with other team’s pending free agents in the days leading up to the expansion draft, so if the Canadiens elect not to re-sign Danault ahead of time, a phone call from Kraken general manager Ron Francis could entice Danault to sign with the expansion club.

Vegas aside, all expansion teams have struggled to score goals. Danault isn’t going to help a team score a boatload, but he has shown over the past few years that he can stop the world’s best. He showed over the past few weeks he could hold the Rocket Richard winner to just one goal in seven  playoff games.

Looking over mock drafts that have been done for the Kraken and they are often weakest down the middle. With teams allowed to protect seven forwards, almost every team in the league will protect three centres, leaving their fourth best option up for grabs.

Down the middle, the Kraken might be able to get a player like Ryan Johansen if they want to take on that huge contract with the hopes he bounces back. They could get Alex Kerfoot from the Maple Leafs but he isn’t a big scorer. Maybe Mason Appleton is available and they hope he can transition to the middle after mostly playing wing.

Taking Danault, if he has already agreed to a contract beforehand, makes a lot of sense for an expansion team. They shouldn’t expect him to score more than 12 goals or 40 points, but he would play Selke level defence and hold opponents off the scoresheet.