Phillip Danault has been the NHL’s leading scorer since May 14

Marc-Olivier Cook
Phillip Danault has been the NHL’s leading scorer since May 14
Credit: Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images

From the moment he joined the Canadiens (or returned, one might say), Phillip Danault has found a way to contribute to the Montreal team's success.

His defensive skills help the team, but since the series against the Sabres, we've also seen him rediscover his offensive touch.

As a reminder: in 30 games with the Kings this season, the Quebec native recorded… a mere five assists. He didn't find the back of the net even once, and his poor offensive production may have prompted the Kings to trade him.

But Danault has racked up more points in his last five games than in his 30 games with the Kings this season.

“Pizza Man” has scored twice and added five assists… and that has him tied for first place among the NHL's top scorers since May 14, alongside Rasmus Dahlin (three goals, seven points in three games) and Nick Suzuki (one goal, seven points in five games).

That's pretty crazy!

When the trade happened in December, many were skeptical about the price Kent Hughes paid.

A second-round pick for a guy who had five assists in 30 games—that's no small thing… 

But today, no one can complain about that. The Kings probably could have used his services in the first round, but they were eliminated in just four games by the Avalanche because there was a huge hole in their center line…

In all this, we also realize that the Quebec native needed a change of scenery.

Things weren't working out for him in California anymore, but he's found his game again with the Canadiens, and we're seeing the Phillip Danault of old right now.

As his agent, Allan Walsh, would say… playing for the Canadiens is in Danault's DNA!


In a nutshell

– He wasn't about to say otherwise…

– Cha-ching!

– That would be… monstrous!

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