A lot of the buzz and trade discussions lately for the Los Angeles Kings have revolved around in the discussions with veteran two-way center Philip Danault for the team.
Which potential trade landing spots make sense for the Los Angeles Kings with veteran center Philip Danault this regular season?
It was reported by many major media figures and national outlets in the past couple of weeks that the Kings and new general manager Ken Holland have been exploring possible trade ideas for Danault on the block this campaign in the West. Danault has a valuable skill set as a reliable and proven two-way center who can win faceoffs, hold his own defensively on that end of the ice, and kill penalties on special teams for the Kings.
But Danault hasn't been as productive offensively for the Kings and head coach Jim Hiller early this regular season in the West than LA has been used to from him in the past couple of years on the ice. He's got a lofty $5.5 million contract for the Kings on the cap sheet that is one of the more expensive contracts for a third-line center position in the West this regular season.
Here are three potential trade destinations that would make sense for the Kings and Danault if Holland and the LA front office ultimately decide to trade the veteran two-way center before the trade deadline in the spring of 2026.
Montreal Canadiens
Recent rumors and trade discussions in various fan and media circles on social media in the past week or so have pegged Danault as potentially landing with the Habs via the trade market this regular season this fall. There is a lot of familiarity between Montreal and Danault. The Kings' veteran center played for the Canadiens for over a half-decade, from 2015-2021 in the 2010s and early 2020s decades.
It's not secret that the Habs are in the trade market for help at the center position this regular season before the trade deadline next spring in the block in 2026. He could theoretically help the Habs boost their two-way play in the defensive zone from the center position and give them another solid penalty killer with the forward unit on special teams at 5-on-4.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have been busy on the trade block, making headline moves before the deadline next spring in 2026. Minnesota pulled off the blockbuster trade, getting star defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks for a lofty return that included young and rising offensive defenseman Zeev Buium.
It's likely that the Wild aren't done looking on the trade market for help boosting forward depth with the top-nine forward lines at the center position this regular season this fall. Danault could hypothetically give the Wild even more two-way depth at the center position and help to solidify their top-nine forward lines core this regular season in the West in the Central Division.
Seattle Kraken
In the past couple of weeks in the West in the Pacific Division, the Seattle Kraken have hit a pretty rough stretch on the schedule this fall. Seattle is in sixth place in the Pacific Division in the West, boasting a record of 12-11-6.
This could hypothetically help the Kraken get a boost with the top six or top-nine forward lines to add a proven veteran two-way presence on defense at the center position if they did trade for an experienced player like Danault on the trade block this regular season.
All the young and rising talent that the Kraken have on the roster on the forward lines in the top-nine core could also be helped by having a veteran mentor and leader like Danault in the locker room.