Canadiens GM Hughes confident Danault can bounce back in second stint in Montreal

Danault is a defensive centre who specializes in faceoffs and the penalty kill — where the Canadiens rank 25th in the NHL. The 32-year-old from Victoriaville, Que., also adds playoff pedigree and experience to the league’s youngest team.

He has shown an ability to contribute offensively in the past, scoring a career-high 27 goals with the Kings in 2021-22, followed by a 57-point season in 2022-23.

Hughes pointed to Danault’s production while taking on one of the game’s toughest assignments during the Kings’ first-round playoff matchup last spring against the Edmonton Oilers.

“From our vantage point, Phil’s a good hockey player,” Hughes said. “He had eight points in six games in the playoffs last year in a role where his primary responsibility was to shut down (Oilers star) Connor McDavid.

“Guys go through these periods in their career where they’re not having the success that they typically have, and we’re pretty confident that he’ll come here and he’ll be energized. It’s very rare that somebody forgets how to play hockey.”

Danault was not scheduled to play Saturday night at home against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hughes said he would join the team for Tuesday’s road game against the Boston Bruins.

After helping the Canadiens reach the 2021 Stanley Cup final, Danault signed a six-year, US$33-million contract with the Kings in free agency. The deal carries a $5.5-million average annual value through next season.

It’s the type of win-now trade rarely seen in Montreal during Hughes’ tenure, a sign the Canadiens have entered a different stage of their rebuild.

After Hughes and president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton took over in 2021-22, the Canadiens spent several seasons trading veterans and collecting futures. This time, they’ve done the opposite.

“I think it’s kind of the first time that we’ve traded for a pretty older guy that’s been around the league,” said Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who played with Danault from 2019 to 2021. “It’s nice to have that and it’s a good feeling as players to get that trust and belief from the management to try to add for the run into the playoffs.”

Montreal (18-12-4) was tied for second in the Atlantic Division in a tight Eastern Conference entering Saturday’s action.

Hughes noted that the Canadiens dealt from an area of depth, as they still hold their own second and first-round picks in next year’s draft.

Drafted in the first round, 26th overall, by Chicago in 2011, Danault developed into an NHL regular after the Canadiens first acquired him in a 2016 trade with the Blackhawks.

The six-foot-one 200-pound forward assisted on Artturi Lehkonen’s overtime winner in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights that sent the Canadiens to the 2021 Cup final.

“A lot of good years with Phil, and he knows what it means to be a Montreal Canadien,” said elder statesman Brendan Gallagher, who also assisted on the goal. “I’m excited, it will be different for him. There’s a lot of changes around here since he left, (but) when he gets here, I’m sure he’ll fit right in.”

The Canadiens placed Dach and defenceman Kaiden Guhle on long-term injured reserve to make room for Danault on the roster.

“We noticed that we needed a little more experience at this stage of the season,” Hughes said. “With the experience in general, but also with the injuries we have right now, I think everyone here knows Phil and his game, and I think it’s something that will help us in this season and the next.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2025.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press