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Forums :: Blog World :: HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Thoughts on Phillip Danault's long-term contract with the LA Kings?
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ToddCordellVAN
Location: Barrie, ON
Joined: 09.04.2013

Jul 30 @ 11:28 AM ET
HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Thoughts on Phillip Danault's long-term contract with the LA Kings?
Habsody
Montreal Canadiens
Location: 3-Rivières, QC
Joined: 12.16.2007

Jul 30 @ 11:35 AM ET
Great player being paid for his playoffs performance yet hasn’t produced much offensively which is the main knock on Danault. We are talking about a 40-45 pts center who can’t reach the 20 goals mark. Term isn’t much of an issue as he has always been healthy and doesn’t play physical but they overpaid 1M/year IMO. Also, it’s funny he went there considering all their elite C prospects and his will to play an important offensive role…
CGYFlames13
Calgary Flames
Joined: 06.13.2021

Jul 30 @ 11:56 AM ET
HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Thoughts on Phillip Danault's long-term contract with the LA Kings?
- ToddCordellVAN


Phillip Danault was the only reason the Habs "qualified" for the Stanley Cup finals. That team is absolute garbage without him.
Only_A_Ladd
Los Angeles Kings
Location: Sabres VERY Much in Hellebuyck Hearing they are the closest treat to getting a deal…bu a mile., CA
Joined: 06.06.2013

Jul 30 @ 12:01 PM ET
PD: 58.7% career defensive zone starts. 63.8% last year. PD will more than capably play the hard minutes that will lighten Kopi's load. He will lighten the load for Byfield, too. He will pitch in 40+ points. Not great for 5.5mm AAV, but its his all around game that justifies the premium.

If all goes well, by the end of 2022, the top 3 lines will feature Kopi/PD/Byfield at center. That's a 2 time Selke winner, a Selke finalist, and a 6'5" kid with an enormous wingspan and lots of speed. Carrying the puck up the ice against that center depth will be tough for LAK's opponents.

Still need more offense, but the Kings are better because of this signing.
jfkst1
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Clackety Clack
Joined: 02.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 12:02 PM ET
I think Danault will be fair value on the contract. He's excellent all around and I think a substantially superior player to Pageau. I do wonder if LAK are the right team given their elite center prospects and Danault's age.
hawk35
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: NF
Joined: 08.26.2009

Jul 30 @ 12:25 PM ET
Phillip Danault was the only reason the Habs "qualified" for the Stanley Cup finals. That team is absolute garbage without him.
- CGYFlames13



He had a GREAT playoff, and over the last 5 years has proven to be a sound defensive player. Still, at 5.5 a year....it seems a lot for a 10 goal, 40 point guy.

If he can "up" his game to 18-20 goals and 55-60 points, then he becomes a real bargain. Time will tell, as it usually does with these longer term deals.
Dewey8
Los Angeles Kings
Joined: 10.24.2018

Jul 30 @ 12:30 PM ET
Some hotstove lol,Shelley posted his blog on this yesterday and copy and pasted it in this thread.get better boys.
tkecanuck341
Los Angeles Kings
Location: Irvine, CA
Joined: 06.25.2009

Jul 30 @ 12:55 PM ET
With most long-term deals, you get a bargain for the first few years of the deal, then overpay for the last few years. With Danault, I think LA will get their money's worth in years 1-3, then be overpay for years 4-6. I don't think they'll ever get the bargain that you'd expect with a long-term signing.
tkecanuck341
Los Angeles Kings
Location: Irvine, CA
Joined: 06.25.2009

Jul 30 @ 12:55 PM ET
Some hotstove lol,Shelley posted his blog on this yesterday and copy and pasted it in this thread.get better boys.
- Dewey8


Give Ben a break. He blogs for like 27 teams in the league on this site.
jfkst1
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Clackety Clack
Joined: 02.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 1:13 PM ET
With most long-term deals, you get a bargain for the first few years of the deal, then overpay for the last few years. With Danault, I think LA will get their money's worth in years 1-3, then be overpay for years 4-6. I don't think they'll ever get the bargain that you'd expect with a long-term signing.
- tkecanuck341


I think if you went back and analyzed UFA contracts of 5+ years, <50% are good by year 3. 2016 UFA class was probably <25%.
tkecanuck341
Los Angeles Kings
Location: Irvine, CA
Joined: 06.25.2009

Jul 30 @ 1:18 PM ET
I think if you went back and analyzed UFA contracts of 5+ years, <50% are good by year 3. 2016 UFA class was probably <25%.
- jfkst1


I should say "you expect to get a bargain" for the first half of the deal. For this contract, I don't think that's the case.
jfkst1
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Clackety Clack
Joined: 02.09.2015

Jul 30 @ 1:30 PM ET
I should say "you expect to get a bargain" for the first half of the deal. For this contract, I don't think that's the case.
- tkecanuck341


That's more than fair. I just don't think that poorly of this contract compared to many that are predictably bad after maybe a year. A legit concern is if he is productive enough to stay at 2C and not get passed by a young skilled C.
tkecanuck341
Los Angeles Kings
Location: Irvine, CA
Joined: 06.25.2009

Jul 30 @ 1:44 PM ET
That's more than fair. I just don't think that poorly of this contract compared to many that are predictably bad after maybe a year. A legit concern is if he is productive enough to stay at 2C and not get passed by a young skilled C.
- jfkst1

I think the expectation is that he will eventually be passed by one of the young centers (most likely Byfield) and will get relegated to 3C before the end of the deal. He said as much in his onboarding interviews.


Ovation
Montreal Canadiens
Location: QC
Joined: 10.27.2006

Jul 30 @ 1:49 PM ET
Phillip Danault was the only reason the Habs "qualified" for the Stanley Cup finals. That team is absolute garbage without him.
- CGYFlames13


No.

Danault was definitely a key part of the Habs’ run but hardly the “only reason” they made the Final. He’ll be missed in Montreal and will be a worthy contributor in LA. However, he's not quite as offence capable as he imagines and I think a fair market contract for him would have been 5 x 4.5. But great for him for getting more. LA is getting a good player for a somewhat inflated sticker price (par for the course for free agency).
Ben Shelley
Joined: 03.12.2019

Jul 30 @ 3:13 PM ET
Some hotstove lol,Shelley posted his blog on this yesterday and copy and pasted it in this thread.get better boys.
- Dewey8


Just to clarify, I didn't post the Hotstove and didn't know that any of my article was getting included. Don't have a problem with it, but wasn't my call.
BlueWave
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 01.31.2012

Jul 30 @ 3:43 PM ET
I doe know ? Not good !
bakunin
Joined: 06.27.2006

Jul 30 @ 3:54 PM ET
Danault plays a 3rd line shut-down center game to perfection, he's a great, smart, and responsible player. On a very weak team like the habs a few years ago, he got to play on the 1st and 2nd line which explains why he got interesting numbers but he can't carry real offensive responsibility.

The problem is if you pay your 3rd line center 5.5m then how can you afford a 1st and a 2nd center for the next 6 years? As much as I like him as a player and I'm happy for him but like 90% of UFA's, there is no way he live up to the expectation of this contract.
poisondhearts37
Los Angeles Kings
Location: A goaltending coach, A few good bounces and the oilers are cup champions!!
Joined: 01.24.2010

Jul 30 @ 5:10 PM ET
Danault plays a 3rd line shut-down center game to perfection, he's a great, smart, and responsible player. On a very weak team like the habs a few years ago, he got to play on the 1st and 2nd line which explains why he got interesting numbers but he can't carry real offensive responsibility.

The problem is if you pay your 3rd line center 5.5m then how can you afford a 1st and a 2nd center for the next 6 years? As much as I like him as a player and I'm happy for him but like 90% of UFA's, there is no way he live up to the expectation of this contract.

- bakunin

By having cap flexibility which LA has. After the 21-22 season. LA has almost 30mil in cap space. Not to mention any potential salary cap rises in the next few years. LA is fine. And have tons of money.
tkecanuck341
Los Angeles Kings
Location: Irvine, CA
Joined: 06.25.2009

Jul 30 @ 5:17 PM ET
By having cap flexibility which LA has. After the 21-22 season. LA has almost 30mil in cap space. Not to mention any potential salary cap rises in the next few years. LA is fine. And have tons of money.
- poisondhearts37


For now this is true, but I do worry about 4 years from now when Byfield signs his next contract.
poisondhearts37
Los Angeles Kings
Location: A goaltending coach, A few good bounces and the oilers are cup champions!!
Joined: 01.24.2010

Jul 30 @ 5:24 PM ET
Next hot stove. OFFER SHEETS. How are the Canucks gonna sign 3 important players with only 14mil in cap space. Jason Richardinson, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Huges. Offer sheets are the time of now.
Garfield512
Montreal Canadiens
Location: I'm a figment of your imagination.
Joined: 11.09.2006

Jul 30 @ 5:31 PM ET
LA is getting a very good player and we'll miss him. Too bad we couldn't make a deal work but such is life in the salary cap era.

Not the best scorer but he's the perfect 3C any team would want, he excels at shutting down an opponent's best line.

I'm sure you guys will like him in LA.
tkecanuck341
Los Angeles Kings
Location: Irvine, CA
Joined: 06.25.2009

Jul 30 @ 5:38 PM ET
LA is getting a very good player and we'll miss him. Too bad we couldn't make a deal work but such is life in the salary cap era.

Not the best scorer but he's the perfect 3C any team would want, he excels at shutting down an opponent's best line.

I'm sure you guys will like him in LA.

- Garfield512


Now that I know that Lias Andersson is forfeiting #24 so Danault can wear it, I'm ordering my next jersey as soon as possible.
Cabbages and Kings
Los Angeles Kings
Joined: 10.15.2020

Jul 30 @ 5:48 PM ET
Everyone in the hockey world seems to agree that Danault's contract is about a year to long and maybe a million to much -- but that's generally what you get when you sign an UFA -- it's a pretty decent contract for a pretty decent player.

It certainly signals that Blake feels the Kings can return to the Playoffs immediately, and make some noise while Kopitar and Doughty can still play. Blake is giving the Kings an outside chance to compete, while not giving up any of the assets that is going to make the team dangerous 3-5 years from now.

It's a win-win situation.

rangerdanger94
New York Rangers
Location: NY
Joined: 05.23.2010

Jul 30 @ 7:50 PM ET
Now that I know that Lias Andersson is forfeiting #24 so Danault can wear it, I'm ordering my next jersey as soon as possible.
- tkecanuck341

How has Lias played?
Benny Blanco
Montreal Canadiens
Location: Islip, Long Island, NY
Joined: 07.25.2020

Jul 30 @ 8:07 PM ET
Phillip Danault was the only reason the Habs "qualified" for the Stanley Cup finals. That team is absolute garbage without him.
- CGYFlames13

I can't remember the Flames being there, were they ?
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