The Montreal Canadiens have acquired Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings. As quickly because the transaction was confirmed, the staff’s veterans welcomed again their former teammate.
“We’re excited to have him again with us,” said Brendan Gallagher after the Canadiens’ morning apply. “We all know the kind of participant he’s, and we all know what he can do for us.”
It’s unclear what function Martin St. Louis will assign him with a full roster, however Danault, 32, may very properly discover Gallagher on his proper wing once more.
Phillip Danault brings penalty-kill assist, expertise to Canadiens
“We had loads of success collectively prior to now,” mentioned the ahead. “I do know his enjoying model. He is a man who does quite a bit to assist his linemates. The league is so aggressive that you need to attempt to benefit from any edge. We simply added an excellent participant who will assist us in a number of sides of the sport.”
A kind of would be the penalty kill. Montreal ranks 20th with a 77.3% effectivity score.
Whereas Josh Anderson, Oliver Kapanen and Joe Veleno have dealt with these minutes, Jake Evans may gain advantage from the addition of a veteran. The Victoriaville native was a part of the staff in 2021 throughout its run to the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
“It was my first full season. As a rookie, he was a participant I seemed as much as,” Evans said. “If you go that far within the playoffs, you construct bonds and reminiscences with every of them. We chatted a bit on the telephone. He’s excited to return again right here.”
The acquisition of Danault, a veteran with 741 NHL video games beneath his belt, signifies Kent Hughes has reached one other stage in constructing a staff: including skilled athletes to a youthful core. Solely Gallagher, drafted by the staff in 2010, has performed extra NHL video games than him.
“That is the primary time we have made a transaction to usher in a participant who has been within the league this lengthy,” mentioned Nick Suzuki. “For us gamers, it is a good feeling to know that administration trusts us and believes in us sufficient so as to add an asset for the playoffs.”
