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Montreal Canadiens: Phillip Danault About To Beat His All-Time Goals Record

By Patrick Lortie |
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to his goal, to take a 1-0 lead over the New York Rangers, during the second period at Staples Center on January 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to his goal, to take a 1-0 lead over the New York Rangers, during the second period at Staples Center on January 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Hearing about Phillip Danault and former Montreal Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin in the same sentence makes anyone cringe. Something happened in the relationship between the two and it led to Danault walking away from frigide Montreal and head off to the sunny beaches of La-La-Land in Los Angeles. The irony that Marc Bergevin would eventually join him in LA is mind blowing.

Danault admitted that he was looking for more offensive responsibilities and the Kings offered that with a shiny 6 year $33 million contract. Pretty rich most might say for someone who’s never scored more than 13 goals in the NHL but Danault has been given a few nods in the Selke trophy race over the past few seasons.

When the contract was signed most pundits believed Danault was in for maybe 1 or 2 seasons at the most playing top line minutes and getting that extra offensive support. However once prospects like Quinten Byfield and Adrian Kempe start to emerge in a more prominent fashion, Danault will likely go back to the same role he had with the Canadiens – a 3rd line center who can play on the 2nd line if needed with a defensive first assignment.

Regardless, the present matter is that Danault has recently tallied his 12th goal of the season in 45 games. Twice he scored 13 goals with the Canadiens and that was in 2016-17 his first full season in Montreal as well as in 2018-19 where he also posted the most points of his career with 53. He’s currently on pace to reach 44 points.

Some would argue that players like Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher played some of their best hockey alongside Danault. Some would go as far as saying that letting him go was one of Bergevin’s biggest mistakes as a GM, especially considering he completely fleeced the Blackhawks when he received Danault and a 2nd round pick (Alexander Romanov) in return for Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise back in 2016.

Needless to say however, so far, Danault is fitting in nicely with the Kings.

Some would dare say that Christian Dvorak is still an upgrade and that time will be on his side. What do you think? Comment below!

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