The 2026-27 season for the Montreal Canadiens is also a Phillip Danault contract year. Danault is in the final year of a six-year contract worth $33 million and carrying an average annual value of $5.5 million. Danault will turn 34 in February and will walk to free agency this coming summer unless the Canadiens offer him a contract extension before July 1st. His play in this contract year is giving the Habs something to think about.
Apr 21, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Kings center Phillip Danault (24) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In the last Phillip Danault contract year he was also a member of the Montreal Canadiens. He had been drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at 26th overall. Danault spent his developmental years between the QMJHL and Chicago's affiliate in the American Hockey League.
Marc Bergevin was the assistant general manager of the Blackhawks when they drafted Danault. During the 2012 offseason, Bergevin was hired as general manager and executive vice president of the Montreal Canadiens. In the 2015-16 season, the Canadiens were going to miss the playoffs and made a trade deadline deal with Bergevin's former team, trading pending free agents Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann to Chicago for Danault and a second round pick.
Danault went on to be an important player for the Habs. He had just one season of more than 50 points, but he was their top shutdown centreman and formed a very effective two-way line with Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher. Danault was outstanding in their run to the Stanley Cup Final in the 202o-21 season, which was his final year with that version of the Montreal Canadiens.
A Phillip Danault contract was due, and he was looking for a raise. The Canadiens were thin on centremen, and Danault was their top shutdown pivot on their best line. But Bergevin did not feel Danault was worth what he was demanding and the Montreal-born player was allowed to walk to free agency. Danault was signed by the Los Angeles Kings to his current contract.
Bergevin was fired early in the 2021-22 season, while Danault was thriving as the second line centreman for the Kings, behind Anze Kopitar. But a return to Montreal was on the horizon. In the 2025-26 season, Danault was struggling in his role in Los Angeles, and the Canadiens needed some veteran centre depth. On December 20, 2025, Danault was traded back to Montreal for a second-round draft pick.
Now we are in another Phillip Danault contract year, and the Montreal Canadiens have a decision to make. There are three considerations for the Habs as they approach this crossroads.
Danault will turn 34 in February, and on Saturday he played his 800th regular season game in the NHL. He has added 81 Stanley Cup Playoff games to that total. Those numbers have benefits and deficits. While that amount of experience on the roster is a benefit to any team, it has to be acknowledged that those are a lot of miles on Danault's skates. How much does Danault have left in the tank?
Danault came to camp looking faster than he did to finish last season in Montreal. He has been excellent in Nick Suzuki's injury absence , but his only goal of the season was an empty net gift from Jake Evans . He is no longer an offensive force, but he leads the team in face-off percentage at 53.9%, is an outstanding penalty killer , and he eats important shutdown minutes to support Suzuki. Danault's line with Alex Texier and Zachary Bolduc has been reliable for Coach Martin St. Louis.
Danault's influence on young Bolduc, and his potential to influence young forwards like Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj , are important features of the veteran leadership he provides to the Montreal Canadiens.
Just like when the last Phillip Danault contract rolled around, there is a possibility that the player will see his own value as higher than Kent Hughes, the general manager, sees it. Hughes has been managing the Canadiens salary cap, and their entire core has signed team-friendly contracts to allow cap space for Hughes to go after the big fish to complete their top six when that player becomes available. There will be limits to what Hughes will be willing to offer Danault.
Will Danault be willing to sign at a discount to stay with his childhood team and keep his family on Montreal? If the next Phillip Danault contract is a final big payday, it likely will not be in Montreal.
The Montreal Canadiens are dealing with a delicate balance with the Phillip Danault contract. His presence means young players are supported and mentored during their early development as NHLers. On the other hand, his presence means a roster spot that is not available to the same young players he is mentoring. Beck and Xhekaj are currently demonstrating they are NHL-ready, but there isn't a consistent roster spot available.
It is anticipated that the Canadiens will add to their roster in the coming weeks and months, and this will likely mean some current players are dealt to achieve an upgrade. Hughes will be wise to wait and see how the roster looks once the trade deadline has passed before committing to Danault.
Phillip Danault has a longstanding relationship with the Montreal Canadiens and continues to be a valued contributor to the team's success. His veteran leadership, and stabilizing impact on young players are particularly useful to the Habs at this stage in their development. A big decision awaits in Montreal.
While the player is highly valued, there are considerations for the salary cap structure that Hughes has built and ensuring roster spots are available for important prospects who will keep the team competitive for years to come. The Phillip Danault contract in his pending free agency year is a storyline to watch for the Montreal Canadiens.
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Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
