The Los Angeles Kings have acted veteran forward Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens. In the deal, the Kings acquired Columbus’ second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. This will mark his second stint in Montreal, as the forward played for the Canadiens from 2015 to 2021. The draft pick heading to LA for Danault is the one the Canadiens got for acquiring Patrik Laine.
The deal ends weeks of speculation surrounding the veterans center. Danault leaves Los Angeles in the midst of a brutal offensive slump, having failed to score a goal in his first 30 games while only managing five assists. That production was a sharp drop from his usual 40-plus point pace with the Kings.
Despite the difficulties, Los Angeles reportedly hesitated to move Danault, valuing his defensive reliability, playoff performance and the difficulty of replacing veteran centers. Salary cap restrictions and the lack of retention spaces could complicate negotiations, but the Kings ultimately found a workable deal. Earlier on Friday, there was talk that the Kings might have targeted Jake Evans in return.
For Montreal, the trade represents a classic “buy-low” move by GM Kent Hughes. Danault returns to a familiar environment where he previously thrived, providing immediate defensive stability and leadership to a young Canadiens roster. A fresh start at the Bell Center could be just what Danault needs to rediscover his game and reset his season.
The deal was made just below the threshold of the NHL’s roster freeze that goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
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