Phil Danault is, like, David Legwand.
That's closer to the mark than freaking Patrice Bergeron!
Last year 40 points got you 129th place for forwards. 30 teams and 6 top-6 spots means 180 top-6 spots league wide. So in other words an above average 2nd liner.
This is a very very very inaccurate way to do this. There aren't 30 teams with six legitimate top6 players. You know this because the Habs don't have six legit top6 players. There are injuries, there are budget teams, there are tanking teams, etc.
Danault had 10 points in his career before this year. Can we pump the breaks a little bit ?!
For me the question marks are, a) Is his production sustainable or is this his career year, b) Can he become a decent PP player, c) how much of his production is from playing with Radulov & Pacioretty
Valid questions. I'm asking the same things.
And to answer my own questions
My guess is that without Radulov/Pacioretty he'd probably put up around 25-30 points. I have no idea about the PP he simply hasn't been given enough of a chance to draw any conclusions, he can probably repeat if surround by great players.
I think he can definitely get more than 40 points, but it depends on his own progression. I can't predict where he's going because I barely know where he's coming from and he didn't exactly show glimpses of elite talent this year. He was just quiet and steady and fine.
I think he'll top out at 50 points, which is a good-to-great #2 in today's NHL.
Just stop comparing him to Patrice Bergeron.