Confirmed with Link: LA Kings @LAKings Welcome to Los Angeles, Phillip Danault!

[Crown Royal]

I say the Kings are in the playoffs now. So that's a big step. Adding Arvidsson, Danault.
Re-signed Moore. Drafted Brandt Clarke. Good Summer. Lost nothing...except MacD, which is a good thing.

Hey, he's scored 53 and 47 pts before. Maybe he can play second center and solidify it, until Byfield or Vilardi take it.

Phillip Danault at eliteprospects.com

2016-17	Montréal Canadiens	NHL	82	13	27	40	35	5	|	Playoffs	6	0	2	2	2	1
2017-18	Montréal Canadiens	NHL	52	8	17	25	34	0	|
2018-19	Montréal Canadiens	NHL	81	12	41	53	39	17	|
2019-20	Montréal Canadiens	NHL	71	13	34	47	32	18	|	Playoffs	10	1	2	3	6	-1
2020-21	Montréal Canadiens	NHL	53	5	19	24	24	9	|	Playoffs	22	1	3	4	6	-1
2021-22	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	-	-	-	-

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

51 goals over 5 seasons. I’m underwhelmed.

 

[BigKing]

Danault is also almost exactly 2 years younger than Handzus when he signed his deal.

You're right. My math yesterday was off and I had it like closer to a year.

Even better.

There is risk with any big FA signing but nobody ever gets anywhere by never making moves with some risk to them. I think with where this team is at and its lack of identity, it is a solid calculated risk.

Every prospect that has come up the last few years has come into an environment where it seems okay to lose and not give a shit. Blake has added two guys that play hard and, as a bonus, haven't won a Cup but have been close so they are hungry.

*edit* Make that three with Edler.

 

[King'sPawn]

I like the player. Worried about the contract in a few years.

Oh well. Deferred anxiety. Yayyyyy!

 

[crassbonanza]

One thing that keeps popping up with the various media on the signing is his leadership ability. This will help the room tremendously. This was one area I think was lacking , Blake saw this and addressed it, along with the Edler signing too.

The signing is starting to grow on me, but I think it's wild if the primary focus on free agency has been on leadership. The fact that we have four 30+ year old former stanley cup champions on the roster taking up 40% of the cap and we have a leadership problem is pretty concerning.

 

[KINGS17]

Rob Blake awakens as GM...

 

[bmr]

The signing is starting to grow on me, but I think it's wild if the primary focus on free agency has been on leadership. The fact that we have four 30+ year old former stanley cup champions on the roster taking up 40% of the cap and we have a leadership problem is pretty concerning.

I don't look at it as concerning. Look at how many leaders we lost from those Stanley Cup years...Stoll, Richards, Greene, Mitchell, Williams, etc.. You can never have too many of them.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

“It’s a 1-0 league.”

 

[YP44]

“It’s a 1-0 league.”

go get Cal for you fantasy hockey goalie

 

[crassbonanza]

Danault 5on5:

Season	GP	PTS/60	S/60	GA/60
2016-17	82	1.8	7	1.9
2017-18	52	1.5	6.7	2.5
2018-19	81	2.1	6.1	2.7
2019-20	71	2.5	6.5	2.4
2020-21	53	1.8	5.1	1.8

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Kopitar 5on5:

Season	GP	PTS/60	S/60	GA/60
2016-17	76	1.4	5.2	2.3
2017-18	82	2.3	5.8	2.2
2018-19	81	1.5	5	2.9
2019-20	70	1.8	4.8	2.1
2020-21	56	1.8	5.9	2.4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

As you can see Danault is a very good point producer.

He addresses the Kings biggest needs. He's perfect.

It's the age and contract that's an issue. Will he maintain this level of play? And if so for how long?

For some perspective; Sammy Blais had a 5 on 5 2.10 P/60 last season. Donskoi had a 2.29. Marcus Foligno had a 2.74. Daniel Sprong had a 2.62. Luke Kunin had a 2.39. Nosek had a 2.22. I mean, even AA had a 2.03 on last years atrocious LA Kings offense.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

go get Cal for you fantasy hockey goalie

We’ll see. A lot of pressure on Todd now that the roster looks playoff worthy.

That said, I am wondering if Todd is the right coach for this team given it’s roster makeup. Seems more like a roster Terry Murray would love to coach.

 

[BigKing]

For some perspective; Sammy Blais had a 5 on 5 2.10 P/60 last season. Donskoi had a 2.29. Marcus Foligno had a 2.74. Daniel Sprong had a 2.62. Luke Kunin had a 2.39. Nosek had a 2.22. I mean, even AA had a 2.03 on last years atrocious LA Kings offense.

I think the difference is that Danault is starting in the defensive zone the majority of the time while playing against top lines.

 

[cyclones22]

This signing makes me even more excited about Kaliyev and even Fagemo. I've said this all along, expecting players 21 years old and under to carry a line, which are going to also include young players of similar age, is a big and unreasonable ask. It's probably too much to ask for 3 of our 4 lines to be anchored by guys barely old enough to drink. I'd plant AK on Danault's wing and hope for the best. The young kids need training wheels to relieve the pressure and put them in best position to succeed and develop.

 

[riznat]

This signing makes me even more excited about Kaliyev and even Fagemo. I've said this all along, expecting players 21 years old and under to carry a line, which are going to also include young players of similar age, is a big and unreasonable ask. It's probably too much to ask for 3 of our 4 lines to be anchored by guys barely old enough to drink. I'd plant AK on Danault's wing and hope for the best. The young kids need training wheels to relieve the pressure and put them in best position to succeed and develop.

Didn't you know? Kaliyev is like 47

 

[BigKing]

We’ll see. A lot of pressure on Todd now that the roster looks playoff worthy.

That said, I am wondering if Todd is the right coach for this team given it’s roster makeup. Seems more like a roster Terry Murray would love to coach.

Was thinking this too.

I've always felt that Blake is basically copying the DL rebuild since:

- He saw it work
- So many of the people here for DL's rebuild are still here as well

Drafting philosophy is a little different but not so wild positionally as it isn't like he is taking wingers all over the place. Anyways, now he's got all of these prospects but instead of just tossing them to the wolves in the NHL, he brings in a legit NHL player that can insulate them from tough matchups. It's very Handzus. Edler is very O'Donnell.

But the coach...Murray was perfect to teach them how to play defense but I'm still not sure what T-Mac is doing.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Kings had the third worst 5 on 5 offense last year. Danault is a top 15 5 on 5 point producer.

His face off dominance (top 3 in the league) will help the power play and penalty kill.

His defensive play will help the Kings defense which was very average. Danault alone will probably increase it a couple spots.

A Kaliyev-Danault-Vilardi line would be very interesting.

The Kings will be a playoff team next year.

 

[tny760]

Didn't you know? Kaliyev is like 47

i've seen his battle wounds from ww2

 

[YP44]

Kings had the third worst 5 on 5 offense last year. Danault is a top 15 5 on 5 point producer.

His face off dominance (top 3 in the league) will help the power play and penalty kill.

His defensive play will help the Kings defense which was very average. Danault alone will probably increase it a couple spots.

A Kaliyev-Danault-Vilardi line would be very interesting.

The Kings will be a playoff team next year.

Everyone saying Pacific is crap maybe right but it will be tight. Vegas is head and shoulders best team, than Edmonton. Vancouver, on paper, should be a playoff team. Calgary is a roller coaster, who knows what Seattle will be, if Anaheim gets Eichel they look a lot better, San Jose sucks.

 

[Master Yoda]

Jim Fox or T-Mac had mentioned somewhere after the season ended, that the system could change depending on the personnel.
It looks like it could be a make or break season for T-Mac.

 

[KINGS17]

“It’s a 1-0 league.”

It can be if we get a couple more of the right players, and bring back the right coach.

 

[crassbonanza]

I think the difference is that Danault is starting in the defensive zone the majority of the time while playing against top lines.

I mean, that's fair, but I don't think just comparing rate stats to Kopitar is a great way to show how offensively gifted he is.

 

[Cook24]

Does this mean JAD eternally stuck as #4 center?

 

[DoktorJeep]

Hopefully Blake didn’t hand this player trade protection. Like most things with the Kings, this seems basically random. I’ll be shocked if Danault puts up more than 30 points with this roster anytime soon.

 

[YP44]

Does this mean JAD eternally stuck as #4 center?

I could see him playing in the AHL next year. not a bad thing for him

 

[YP44]

Hopefully Blake didn’t hand this player trade protection. Like most things with the Kings, this seems basically random. I’ll be shocked if Danault puts up more than 30 points with this roster anytime soon.

If it was a 10 team NTC it would not severely handcuff the team

 

[KINGS17]

I don't want to hear anymore about how Kopitar isn't putting up big point totals, because he is playing all the hard minutes.

This isn't rocket surgery, so McLellan should be able to figure this out.