Insider: Danault & Kings Relationship Went ‘Off the Rails’

Many around the hockey world were stunned that the Los Angeles Kings would trade the veteran center Phillip Danault for a draft pick, without getting a roster player back in return. Especially considering centers are at a premium on the trade market these days. So why did the Kings rush into such a deal?

According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the situation had become so untenable, something had to be done ASAP, and the Montreal Canadiens likely knew they had the Kings over a barrel.

It just shows you how bad that relationship got—It's hard to find centers, and they traded one...
I just heard it got really, really intense, and got off the rails... I don't think this is something that (Kings GM) Ken Holland wanted to do, but I think it was something that, 'You know what? We just have to do this'. Because I just heard there were a lot of hard feelings there on both sides.
Look, I'm not accusing anyone of anything, I just think that he really wanted to move on, and I think by the end, they were like, 'This has to end, it's just too distracting.'

Danault was struggling mightily this season, with no goals and just five assists in 30 games. This, from a player who started off his run with the Kings three years ago with a 27-goal campaign, and contributed another 35 goals over the next two seasons. Last year, things began to slip offensively, as Danault dropped to just eight goals. But he still recorded a career-best plus/minus rating of +20.

Despite his minuscule output on the scoresheet this year, he's still considered a shutdown center defensively, with strong faceoff skills, and an elite penalty killer.

But something obviously went wrong in LA with the 32-year-old, and it became untenable.

He's expected to make his second debut with the Canadiens on Tuesday, as he'll be joining the team in Boston for their road game against the Bruins.

Danault spent a successful 5 1/2 years in Montreal before signing a six-year, $33M free agent deal with the Kings in 2021. He's still got one year left on that deal at a $5.5 million cap hit.