Kings Trade Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens

The deal brings an end to weeks of speculation surrounding the veteran center. Danault leaves Los Angeles in the midst of a brutal offensive slump, having failed to score a goal in his first 30 games while managing just five assists. That production was a sharp drop from his usual 40-plus point pace with the Kings.

Despite the struggles, Los Angeles was reportedly hesitant to move Danault, valuing his defensive reliability, playoff performance, and the difficulty of replacing experienced centers. Salary-cap limitations and the lack of retention slots could have complicated negotiations, but the Kings ultimately found a workable deal. Talk earlier on Friday was that the Kings might have been targeting Jake Evans in return.

For Montreal, the trade represents a classic “buy-low” move by GM Kent Hughes. Danault returns to a familiar environment where he previously thrived, providing immediate defensive stability and leadership to a young Canadiens roster. A fresh start at the Bell Centre could be exactly what Danault needs to rediscover his game and reset his season.

The deal came in just under the wire of the NHL’s roster freeze that kicks in at 11:59 PM Eastern time.