Things have been going swimmingly for the Montreal Canadiens so far this season. A team that made some massive changes over the offseason, they were not only one of the favorites in the new North Division, but are currently leading the NHL standings and firing on all cylinders. But, is everything going swimmingly off the ice?
For the Canadiens, one of the storylines heading into the 2020-21 campaign wasn’t just about how new arrivals and young stars might mesh. Key to the long-term plans for the Habs was how these arrivals might affect a player like Phillip Danault.
A highly-skilled, well-rounded and often underrated player, Danault had spoken openly about not wanting to take a back seat when it came to the Canadiens offensive schemes. These comments were notable because the center was coming up to end of his current contract with the club and some had wondered if perhaps a trade might be in his future.
He’s since change his tune and seems happy to be with the club, serving whatever role will help the team win. That said, a report this weekend suggests there’s still some uncertainty about his long-term future with the organization.
As per a story from Mathias Burnet of La Presse, the Canadiens did make a sizeable offer to Danault over the offseason. Burnet writes, “From what we have learned, Danault is the second CH veteran to receive a contract offer in September, after Jeff Petry, before Brendan Gallagher.”
The report goes on to say that the offer was 30 million over six years (annual salary average of five million) and Danault turned it down. The Canadiens are rumored to be willing to come up a few hundred thousand from their last offer, but as of now, there have been no further talks because Danault’s camp has not offered a counter of any kind.
So What’s Next For Danault and the Canadiens?
It seems unlikely that the team will disrupt any of the success they are currently having to deal with Danault’s contract situation, but there will come a time when the two sides will have to revisit talks.
The good news, as Brunet writes is that things have not gotten ugly. He notes:
According to our information, Danault is happy in Montreal and is keen to continue his career with the Canadiens. The gap would not be that important between the two parties, although there seem to be some nuances to be clarified on the duration of the contract. Some speak of a five-year deal, others of six seasons.
Can the Canadiens eventually get a deal done? Or, as the season progresses and players like Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki continue to roll along, will Danualt become more of a trade asset during this upcoming offseason?
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