Phillip Danault (born February 24, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Danault has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens.

Phillip Danault
Danault at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Born (1993-02-24) February 24, 1993 (age 31)
Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Los Angeles Kings
Chicago Blackhawks
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 26th overall, 2011
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2012–present

Playing career

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As a youth, Danault played in the 2005 and 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Victoriaville Tigres minor ice hockey team.[1] He later played junior ice hockey with the Victoriaville Tigres and Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He was selected 26th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

On March 30, 2012, he was assigned to the Blackhawks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.[2]

In the 2014–15 season, Danault was recalled from the IceHogs by the Blackhawks and made his NHL debut on November 22, 2014, in a 7–1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.[3]

Danault was initially assigned to the Rockford IceHogs to begin the 2015–16 season. On December 18, 2015, Danault was recalled from Rockford to the Blackhawks, and on December 20, he earned his first NHL point with an assist on Andrew Shaw's goal in a 4–3 win against the San Jose Sharks.[4] He scored his first career NHL goal on January 8, 2016, the game-winner in a 3–1 win against the Buffalo Sabres.[5] After solidifying a role amongst the Blackhawks' fourth line and contributing with 5 points in 30 games, on February 26, 2016, Danault was acquired by the Montreal Canadiens (along with Chicago's second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft) in exchange for forwards Dale Weise and Tomáš Fleischmann.[6] On July 5, 2016, Danault re-signed with the Canadiens on a two-year contract.[7]

On January 13, 2018 during a game against the Boston Bruins, Danault was hit in the head by a shot from Zdeno Chára. Danault remained motionless on the ice for several minutes. He was eventually stretchered off the ice and taken to the hospital. The Canadiens lost the game 4–3 in a shootout.[8]

On July 15, 2018, Phillip re-signed with the Canadiens agreeing to a three-year contract. On 22 December 2018, Danault scored his first career NHL hat-trick in a 4–3 overtime victory against the Vegas Golden Knights.[9] Danault finished the 2018–19 season with a career-high 53 points, and finished seventh in votes for the Selke Trophy.[10]

Danault became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2021, and on July 28, he signed a six-year, $33 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.[11] During the season, Danault scored a career high 27 goals with the Kings, helping them clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2018.

On March 9, 2023, Danault scored his 100th NHL goal.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Trois-Rivières Estacades QMAAA 44 8 19 27 32 19 4 11 15 8
2009–10 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 61 10 18 28 54 16 0 1 1 8
2010–11 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 64 23 44 67 59 9 5 10 15 6
2011–12 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 62 18 53 71 61 4 0 3 3 4
2011–12 Rockford IceHogs AHL 7 0 2 2 10
2012–13 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 29 14 30 44 28
2012–13 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 27 9 32 41 22 4 1 3 4 0
2012–13 Rockford IceHogs AHL 5 0 0 0 2
2013–14 Rockford IceHogs AHL 72 6 20 26 40
2014–15 Rockford IceHogs AHL 70 13 25 38 38 8 3 2 5 20
2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 2 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Rockford IceHogs AHL 6 1 1 2 4
2015–16 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 30 1 4 5 6
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 21 3 2 5 8
2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 82 13 27 40 35 6 0 2 2 2
2017–18 Montreal Canadiens NHL 52 8 17 25 34
2018–19 Montreal Canadiens NHL 81 12 41 53 39
2019–20 Montreal Canadiens NHL 71 13 34 47 32 10 1 2 3 6
2020–21 Montreal Canadiens NHL 53 5 19 24 24 22 1 3 4 6
2021–22 Los Angeles Kings NHL 79 27 24 51 38 7 3 2 5 2
2022–23 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 18 36 54 63 6 2 3 5 12
2023–24 Los Angeles Kings NHL 78 17 30 47 18 5 0 1 1 4
NHL totals 631 117 234 351 297 56 7 13 20 32

International

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Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Canada Quebec U17 6th 5 0 3 3 22
2010 Canada IH18   5 0 3 3 4
2013 Canada WJC 4th 6 0 1 1 2
Junior totals 16 0 7 7 28

Awards and honours

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Award Year
QMJHL
CHL Top Prospects Game 2011
Guy Carbonneau Trophy 2011 [12]

References

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  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  2. ^ Blackhawks Assign Pair of First Round Picks to Rockford – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News
  3. ^ "Oilers lose sixth straight". The Sports Network. 2014-11-22. Retrieved 2014-11-22.
  4. ^ "Blackhawks overcome Sharks in 4-3 victory". Chicago Blackhawks. 2015-12-20. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  5. ^ "Phillip Danault scores first NHL goal as Chicago Blackhawks beat Buffalo Sabres 3-1 for sixth straight win". NHL.com. January 9, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  6. ^ "Canadiens trade Weise, Fleischmann to Blackhawks for Danault and a pick". Sportsnet.ca. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  7. ^ "Habs sign Danault to two-year extension". Montreal Canadiens. July 5, 2016.
  8. ^ "Horrific incident for Canadiens Danault takes air out of game vs. Bruins". Sportsnet.ca. 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  9. ^ Cowan, Stu (2018-12-24). "Danault's hat-trick powers Canadiens to 4-3 OT win in Las Vegas". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  10. ^ Cowan, Stu (2019-09-20). "Canadiens' Phillip Danault enjoyed best summer of his life". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  11. ^ "LA Kings Sign Forward Phillip Danault To A Six-Year Contract". NHL.com. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  12. ^ "Phillip Danault receives Guy-Carbonneau trophy". March 28, 2011.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Chicago Blackhawks first round draft pick
2011
Succeeded by