Kyle Garcia With training camp right around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Phillip Danault!
Phillip Danault
Biography
Birthdate: February 24, 1993
Birthplace: Victoriaville, Quebec
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lbs
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 1st round, 26th overall, 2011 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago
2021-2022 Season
Many people questioned the contract when Phillip Danault signed his six-year contract with an AAV of $5.5 million with the LA Kings. Danault was brought in to give the Kings a legit number two center to play behind Anze Kopitar. With Danault brought in to take off some of the defensive responsibilities from Kopitar, he ended up providing more than just defense.
Danault would set career highs in goals with 27 – his previous career high was 13 – which was second on the team. He would also find great chemistry on the second line with Viktor Arvidsson and Trevor Moore when they got put together toward the end of the first half of the season. They would go on to be arguably the Kings’ best line but had to be broken up in the playoffs due to an injury sustained by Arvidsson.
Safe to say Danault was worth every single penny.
“PhIllIp DaNAulT cAn’T sCoRe GoAlS.” pic.twitter.com/v3FsTAVt0N
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 3, 2022
2022-2023 Outlook
Danault will look to continue to build off his successful 2021-2022 campaign. He will be penciled in as the number two center on the opening night roster and will take on defensive responsibilities just like last season. I believe Danault should be on the first penalty kill unit that way it can help cut Kopitar’s minutes down and allow him to focus on generating offense again.
Some people believe that Danault may not have the same kind of season as last year. Can he? Maybe. Maybe not. We don’t know if he’ll score 27 goals (I say he’ll get around 20) again but his shutdown defense and playmaking will always be there.
(Main photo credit: Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)