For over a week now, Los Angeles Kings centre Phillip Danault of Victoriaville, Quebec has been rumoured to be traded. Danault has had a very disappointing season as he only has five points in 30 games. Recently, he has not played at all due to illness.
Danault in 2025-26
Danault does not have a single goal in 2025-26, as all five of his points have been on assists. He is a +3 with six penalty minutes, one shorthanded point, 42 shots on goal, 219 faceoff wins, 11 blocked shots, 22 hits, four takeaways, and 25 giveaways.
Danault’s shorthanded point was a shorthanded assist in a 6-5 Kings shootout win over the Vegas Golden Knights on October 8. Danault set up Trevor Moore of Thousand Oaks, California at 11:39 of the third period. At the time, Moore pulled the Kings within one goal, as the score was 5-4 Golden Knights.
How much has Danault been struggling?
Danault only has one point since November 13. That came on December 6 in a 6-0 Kings win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Danault set up defenseman Michael Andersen of Fridley, Minnesota at 6:18 of the third period. At the time, the Kings went up 5-0.
The fact that Danault only has five points is a genuine surprise. That is because he had a combined total of 195 points over his previous four seasons with the Kings before the 2025-26 NHL season.
Who are the three teams interested in Danault?
According to Josh Erickson of Pro Hockey Rumors, the teams interested in Danault the most are the Montreal Canadiens, Utah Mammoth and New Jersey Devils.
Why do the Canadiens make the most sense?
Montreal has been looking for another centre ever since they lost Christian Dvorak in free agency to the Philadelphia Flyers on Canada Day. Danault has history in Montreal. He played six seasons with the Canadiens from 2015 to 2021. In 360 games with the Canadiens during that time, Danault had 54 goals and 140 assists for 194 points. He was a +47 with 172 penalty minutes, 12 power-play points, five shorthanded points, seven game-winning goals, 587 shots on goal, 3083 faceoff wins, 226 blocked shots, 437 hits, 190 takeaways and 196 giveaways. In his last three seasons wit the Canadiens, Danault had Selke Trophy consideration.
Why are the Mammoth and Devils interested?
New Jersey is looking for another forward while Jack Hughes is out with his hand injury. Hughes got hurt in bizarre circumstances (cutting his hand on a glass during a team dinner). The Mammoth are looking for a replacement for Logan Cooley, who is out two months with a lower-body injury.
Update: Danault was traded late Friday night to the Canadiens for a second round pick in 2026.Â
