Todd McLellan was right.
In October 2021, just weeks into Phillip Danault’s rookie season in Los Angeles, the Kings head coach had a blast with the center, saying he would have an impact positive on young players. “Once he is really comfortable, we will get more offensively,” he added.
You have to admit, McLellan knows his hockey – that’s what 15 years as an NHL head coach does, it seems. “I don’t want to take the credit, but I don’t think I was wrong,” he said, smirking, Saturday morning after his team’s practice. This remark concerned the impact of the Quebecer on the other players. But it could very well have focused on the offensive work of Danault. Again, he was right.
“I’m sure the people here in Montreal and the Canadiens fans appreciated that Phil held back the opposing players. We’ve seen that consistently in the last year and a half. But there is so much more to him,” McLellan argued.
That plus is his “offensive flair,” his “pitch winning ability,” the way he uses his body and stick “really well” in battles for the puck, listed the man from 55 years. “On several occasions, we find videos of what he does well to show them to young players,” he continued, visibly delighted to talk about his striker.
In Montreal, Phillip Danault was best known for his defensive qualities. The Quebecer had, at the time, hinted that he wanted to obtain a more offensive role, which had not happened. In Los Angeles, he was able to exploit this side of his game that he knew well there, while continuing his defensive work.
Last year, he scored 27 goals in 79 games, a career high. This year, he has 7 in 29 games; that’s more than half his highest single-season goal tally (13) during his six years with the Habs.
“I wanted to take another step in my career, explained Danault. I wanted to exploit something else of my facets. I believed in my abilities, too. »
I needed the little pat on the back to spread my wings and that’s what they gave me in LA.
Phillip Danault
As a second center, behind Anze Kopitar, the Victoriavillois also gets playing time on the power play (6e most used player for the Kings in AN).
” [L’an dernier], I deserved my spot on the power play, I was ahead of the net, he said. This year I was tried along the ramp and it clicked. I have excellent players with me who help me, we work well together, we are on the same page. At that time, it helps. [Comme]obviously, [d’avoir] management’s confidence. »
” He is super straight”
The last time Phillip Danault and the Kings were in Montreal, in November 2021, nothing was going well for the Canadian, who had lost 11 of his first 14 games.
A lot has changed since then, starting with the head coach and general manager. The CH is also led offensively by two young attackers, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, whose progress is dazzling.
Asked if he had contributed, in his own way, to the development of Suzuki two years ago, Danault refused to take any credit for what his former teammate has become.
“He really is quite a player. All the honor goes to him. His attitude, from the start, was different. The maturity was there. I just tweaked it, helped get into the league. I didn’t even have to keep it straight, it’s super straight. He’s a great player and a good person. »
The 29-year-old striker also said he was “not at all surprised that [Suzuki] be captain. “I would have done the same,” he added.
Work and sacrifices
Just last Thursday, Danault hit the 500-game plateau in the National League. He is the 191e Quebecers of history to achieve this.
“I was a kid, I played video games, I hoped to one day play in the NHL, he launched. Looks like it went by so fast. At the same time, there is a lot of work behind it and support from my wife, who has been with me since the beginning of my career. I didn’t do this alone. It’s a lot of work, sacrifices. »
“Let’s hope I’m only halfway!” he added with a smile.