The Montreal Canadiens have long been looking for an upgrade at center behind Nick Suzuki, and it appears they are interested in a reunion with a former one of their own. That would be Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault.
Danault’s situation in Los Angeles has become complicated. As a result, there has been a lot of talk about the veteran’s availability via trade, should general manager Ken Holland receive the right offer.
There has been some back and forth as to whether Danault has formally requested a change of scenery, although his name continues to swirl through the rumor mill – and where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Numerous potential landing spots have been floated for the Quebec native, and insider Frank Seravalli recently called his hometown Canadiens a logical fit.
Seravalli said:
“Teams have been calling, and his name is definitely percolating in the market…Teams have been calling, I think the Montreal Canadiens, his former, one of his former teams, makes a lot of sense to me. And I know a number of other teams have been calling to try to get into the mix. So yeah, definitely a name to keep an eye on,”
Danault enjoyed great success during his five and a half seasons in Montreal, serving primarily as a shutdown center and playing a key role in the Canadiens’ run to the 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Final.
That said, the 32-year-old has struggled offensively from 2025-2026, recording just five points (five assists) in 30 games – a big reason why his name has come up in trade talks.
The 32-year-old is in the fifth season of the six-year, $33 million contract he signed to join the Kings as a UFA in 2021. That contract includes a modified 10-team no-trade clause, which could limit potential destinations, though it’s hard to imagine his former team and hometown in Montreal being on that list.
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