Phillip Danault

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
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
PositionCentre
ShootsLeft
NHL team
Former teams
Los Angeles Kings
Chicago Blackhawks
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft26th overall, 2011
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career2012–present

Playing career

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

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2008–09Trois-Rivières EstacadesQMAAA44819273219411158
2009–10Victoriaville TigresQMJHL6110182854160118
2010–11Victoriaville TigresQMJHL64234467599510156
2011–12Victoriaville TigresQMJHL621853716140334
2011–12Rockford IceHogsAHL702210
2012–13Victoriaville TigresQMJHL2914304428
2012–13Moncton WildcatsQMJHL27932412241340
2012–13Rockford IceHogsAHL50002
2013–14Rockford IceHogsAHL726202640
2014–15Rockford IceHogsAHL7013253838832520
2014–15Chicago BlackhawksNHL20000
2015–16Rockford IceHogsAHL61124
2015–16Chicago BlackhawksNHL301456
2015–16Montreal CanadiensNHL213258
2016–17Montreal CanadiensNHL821327403560222
2017–18Montreal CanadiensNHL528172534
2018–19Montreal CanadiensNHL8112415339
2019–20Montreal CanadiensNHL7113344732101236
2020–21Montreal CanadiensNHL535192424221346
2021–22Los Angeles KingsNHL792724513873252
2022–23Los Angeles KingsNHL8218365463623512
2023–24Los Angeles KingsNHL781730471850114
NHL totals631117234351297567132032

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
2010Canada QuebecU176th503322
2010CanadaIH18 50334
2013CanadaWJC4th60112
Junior totals1607728

Awards and honours

AwardYear
QMJHL
CHL Top Prospects Game2011
Guy Carbonneau Trophy2011[12]

References

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Chicago Blackhawks first round draft pick
2011
Succeeded by