Phillip Danault is entering his fourth season with the Los Angeles Kings after signing a six-year contract as a free agent before the 2021-22 season after six seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. He has had some of the best seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Kings but there are some concerning trends for the 31-year-old.
Let's take a look at the player and what to expect from the veteran entering the 2024-25 season.
LA Kings Player Profile: Phillip Danault
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 200 pounds
2023-24 Stats
Games Played: 78
Goals: 17
Assists: 30
Points: 47
+/-: 12
Average Ice Time: 18:01
What to expect from Phillip Danault in the 2024-25 season?
Phillip Danault is coming off what might be considered his worst season with the Los Angeles Kings after only 17 goals, 30 assists, and 47 points (each stat being season-lows with the Kings). However, the stats don't reflect what he brings to the team and he is a steady presence in the middle of the ice.
While it is a small sample size, he really struggled in the playoffs with only one point in the series against the Edmonton Oilers and a faceoff percentage of 45.6%. There is no question that the hand injury played a factor in the struggles but he will need to put that behind him quickly during the preseason and into the regular season.
The question for Danault this coming season is which line he will be running as he primarily has been the center on the second line for the past three seasons. It will be interesting to see if Danault can hold off Quinton Byfield for that spot but regardless of what line he is playing on, he will be a valuable piece for this offense and a big part of their success.