"Danault had played for the Canadiens from 2016 to 2021, after having been acquired by ex-general manager Marc Bergevin in the trade-deadline deal that sent Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Habs also acquired a 2018 second-round pick in the trade that would become Alexander Romanov, reinforcing the notion the Habs had fleeced the Blackhawks, with Romanov factoring significantly in their trade, ironically for another centre, in Kirby Dach, at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft."
"With Dach now out with an injury, albeit seemingly on the verge of a return to action, the Canadiens now need greater depth down the middle and in general, especially as they find themselves in the thick of a playoff race in the Atlantic Division, one point out of first place, heading into action Saturday night. With that, reacquiring Danault, who left the Canadiens to sign as an unrestricted free agent with the Kings after the Habs' Stanley Cup run in 2021, made more sense, despite the higher cap hit ($5.5 million, none of which will be retained, compared to his previous $3.083 million hit)."
"The pick the Canadiens are giving up, which obviously runs somewhat of a risk of turning into the next Romanov, represents part of their return when they traded defenseman Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets two summers ago for Patrik Laine, when they similarly agreed to take on the forward's full $8.7 cap hit. Danault's current deal runs out next season."
Phillip Danault returned to the Montreal Canadiens after the team reacquired him from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. Danault previously played for Montreal from 2016–2021 after being acquired in a trade that sent Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise to Chicago; that deal also yielded a 2018 second-round pick that became Alexander Romanov. The Canadiens sit in a tight Atlantic Division playoff race and need center depth while Kirby Dach is injured. Danault signed with the Kings after 2021; his current $5.5 million cap hit is higher than his prior $3.083 million salary and his contract expires next season.
Read at The Hockey Writers
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