Player Discussion Phillip Danault - The Centermania Sequel

[Habs Icing]

5M is a no brainer for a center that can play against top line while putting 40pts

The big question is will he put up 40 points with Lehkonen, Byron or Armia as linemates. Danault doesn't think so. He said as much in the presser.

 

[Habs Icing]

Sadly it's impossible for us to actually know. We aren't privy to this information.
All I'm saying is, if I wasn't please with the return, I wouldn't rush to trade him. I'd rather gamble on him improving his value and moving him later.

How are you going to improve his value this upcoming season? Suzuki has definitely proven he can play ahead of Danault and maybe even KK. So you have to take Danault's linemates away from him and put him on a line with Lehky, Byron or Armia. You think his offensive numbers are going to stay the same or plummet?

 

[salbutera]

The big question is will he put up 40 points with Lehkonen, Byron or Armia as linemates. Danault doesn't think so. He said as much in the presser.

That’s what I don’t get, there’s no reason Tatar and Gallagher are no longer his line mates. This offseasons major move is about finding a W for KK and potentially another for Drouin-Suzuki which should be far easier to accomplish. Add to it Danault will continue to get 17+ TOI for the foreseeable future...this is all a complete waste of energy IMO.

 

[DAChampion]

That’s what I don’t get, there’s no reason Tatar and Gallagher are no longer his line mates. This offseasons major move is about finding a W for KK and potentially another for Drouin-Suzuki which should be far easier to accomplish. Add to it Danault will continue to get 17+ TOI for the foreseeable future...this is all a complete waste of energy IMO.

There's not enough cap space to add two wingers better than Tatar and Gallagher long term.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

How are you going to improve his value this upcoming season? Suzuki has definitely proven he can play ahead of Danault and maybe even KK. So you have to take Danault's linemates away from him and put him on a line with Lehky, Byron or Armia. You think his offensive numbers are going to stay the same or plummet?

If I were the GM, I would be hard pressed to get answers right now. First of all, at the right salary, can he accept his role, and then the salary itself. If I can't come to terms with him for both salary and role, then it's time to trade. NOW!

 

[Habs Icing]

That’s what I don’t get, there’s no reason Tatar and Gallagher are no longer his line mates. This offseasons major move is about finding a W for KK and potentially another for Drouin-Suzuki which should be far easier to accomplish. Add to it Danault will continue to get 17+ TOI for the foreseeable future...this is all a complete waste of energy IMO.

Why does Danault get the best two wingers on the team?

How about we try them with our most offensive centers and see if their numbers don't improve.

 

[salbutera]

There's not enough cap space to add two wingers better than Tatar and Gallagher long term.

- Anderson to play with Drouin & Suzuki should be attainable in exchange for picks

- the tougher play will be getting a W for KK.

Yes an elite W is preferable but if none are dealt then have to go to next level - I.e Dadonov

 

[Pacciosoftie]

Why does Danault get the best two wingers on the team?

How about we try them with our most offensive centers and see if their numbers don't improve.

Exactly. Why not put him with defensive specialists like Byron and lehkonen and form an even better shutdown line? The points he will lose will be gained by KK and Suzuki’s lines and overall the forward lineup will be more effective. Too bad he wouldn’t accept this.

 

[Habs Icing]

If I were the GM, I would be hard pressed to get answers right now. First of all, at the right salary, can he accept his role, and then the salary itself. If I can't come to terms with him for both salary and role, then it's time to trade. NOW!

I'm not the GM but 5 million is my ceiling. He wants anything more than that and I start making calls. I'd give him the full 8 years but I retain the right to trade him

 

[salbutera]

Why does Danault get the best two wingers on the team?

How about we try them with our most offensive centers and see if their numbers don't improve.

Tatar played with KK and Suzuki these past playoffs and had zero chemistry with them - he seems to feed off Danault & Gallagher’s forechecking

 

[Pacciosoftie]

Give KK Tatar and Gally and I’m sure he’d put up more points than Danault and be almost as effective defensively.

 

[Habs Icing]

Tatar played with KK and Suzuki these past playoffs and had zero chemistry with them - he seems to feed off Danault & Gallagher’s forechecking

Your observation would sound good if it were true. Tatar played most of the playins and playoffs with Gally and danault and did nothing.

 

[salbutera]

Your observation would sound good if it were true. Tatar played most of the playins and playoffs with Gally and danault and did nothing.

And when they tried to switch it up by putting him next to Suzuki or KK it was just as ineffective. Anyway, he’ll be gone either prior to or after the season, I just don’t see him being re-upped

 

[Kriss E]

How are you going to improve his value this upcoming season? Suzuki has definitely proven he can play ahead of Danault and maybe even KK. So you have to take Danault's linemates away from him and put him on a line with Lehky, Byron or Armia. You think his offensive numbers are going to stay the same or plummet?

I dont think his value will change dramatically. Whoever is targeting him will do so because he's a top 6~9 guy that provides a strong two way game.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

The big question is will he put up 40 points with Lehkonen, Byron or Armia as linemates. Danault doesn't think so. He said as much in the presser.

Just imagine the waste of talent if Bergeron or Crosby have Lehkonen, Byron or Armia as linemates. The question is : who would do good offensively with those linemates?

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Bergevin need to sign a strong W. For whoever center Suzuki or KK. Tatar who was our best scorer became invible in the PO except for one game. Habs need to get bigger and Danault is a rare offensive player with size. My solution is to play him as winger with KK. Alternate their position for important face offs. Centers can play wing, it happened many time.

Including Danault, there is only 3 offensive players with size on the top 9. The two others are KK and Armia. And Armia plays like he doesn't have size, Gallagher who is smaller plays like he have more size than Armia. Habs have a problem with size. Think about it before sending Danault in a trade.

 

[Habs Icing]

Just imagine the waste of talent if Bergeron or Crosby have Lehkonen, Byron or Armia as linemates. The question is : who would do good offensively with those linemates?

You're comparing Danault to Bergeron and Crosby?

You ask who could play well offensively with Lehky, Byron or Armia. Well, I ask you could Tatar and Gally do better with Suziki, Domi or KK?

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

You're comparing Danault to Bergeron and Crosby?

You ask who could well offensively with Lehky, Byron or Armia. Well, I ask you could Tatar and Gally do better with Suziki, Domi or KK?

I'm not comparing Danault with Syd or Bergy. Do you think Domi was happy having to play with those linemates? He would do his best play to make a pass and they miss the goal by a mile. So next shift he try to make everything by himself. Then here we complain he plays selfish.

Tatar and Gally isn't enough. They are second line wingers if we compare with wingers of top teams. I don't think there would be a better chemistry with Suzuki or KK. The numbers will remain about the same, that's my opinion. I post here to share my views and try to find a solution. If this forum think the solution is to put Tatar and Gally with Suzuki or KK, I don't think it's gonna make the Habs make the PO. One offensive line isn't enough, what will happen with the 3 other lines? Julien or whoever other coach with have headaches trying to find the right line combos when most of his offensive players lacks size and/or talent.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Just an opinion, but I could see Danault and his agent looking at Mikael Backlund as a comparable for a contract. Backlund is at a $5.35M AAV. He is a 2C that has been a 40+ point player for a few years (and had one season at 53 pts). He started his 40+ point seasons in his age 26-27 season. Danault's first 40-point season, he was in his age 23-24 season.

Danault is also a 40+ point center, who also hit 53 pts once. He was on pace for another 50+ point season this year. And one year he had 25 points in 52 games, due to injuries. And in an 82 game season, that would have been another 40-point season.

So with all that in mind, I could see him use Mikael Backlund's contract as a comparable.

If that is the case, would you be okay with Danault at $5.35M for multiple years? Ideally, he's your 3C, but he would have a bigger role than your typical 3C. He can slot into your Top-6, plays against the leagues best players, generates offense, is a key piece of your PK. He'd be a Top-9 center that could get anywhere between 16-20 minutes a night.

 

[SOLR]

That's simply not true.

What is not true? The coach seems to think its true.

Suzuki is already often trusted over Danault in faceoff situations. I mean if I'm Danault I'm seeing the writing on the wall when there is not a single thing I can do better than Suzuki. I can't compete with KK offense at all, not at goal scoring, not at physicality, not at playmaking.

And it's even worse than that, we are way too severe on Poehling right now, he's in the adjustment period, but he's coming for Danault as well.

 

[SOLR]

Erik Haula would be a really good option on the UFA market to replace Danault if they should trade him..

He's from Pori Finland.. Who else is from Pori, Finland? KK and Armia...

Haula would be perfect as a third line center.

Who cares where they are from, seriously.

 

[Habs Icing]

Just an opinion, but I could see Danault and his agent looking at Mikael Backlund as a comparable for a contract. Backlund is at a $5.35M AAV. He is a 2C that has been a 40+ point player for a few years (and had one season at 53 pts). He started his 40+ point seasons in his age 26-27 season. Danault's first 40-point season, he was in his age 23-24 season.

Danault is also a 40+ point center, who also hit 53 pts once. He was on pace for another 50+ point season this year. And one year he had 25 points in 52 games, due to injuries. And in an 82 game season, that would have been another 40-point season.

So with all that in mind, I could see him use Mikael Backlund's contract as a comparable.

If that is the case, would you be okay with Danault at $5.35M for multiple years? Ideally, he's your 3C, but he would have a bigger role than your typical 3C. He can slot into your Top-6, plays against the leagues best players, generates offense, is a key piece of your PK. He'd be a Top-9 center that could get anywhere between 16-20 minutes a night.

I said in another post 5 million is my no-budge ceiling but I would give him 8 years.

As for the comparison between Danault and Backlund, you can't just look at the point totals. You have to look at the linemates each player was teamed with, at the breakdown of their points. Without having looked at the stats more closely, I would say Backlund is more of an offensive driver than Danault. So if you move Backlund down the lineup he would probably do better than Danault. In other words if you play Danault on the 2nd or 3rd line on the Habs his numbers would plummet which I suspect would not be the case with Backlund.

 

[Habs Icing]

Who cares where they are from, seriously.

You ask that question on a Habs forum? Really?

 

[SOLR]

You ask that question on a Habs forum? Really?

It wasn't a question...

 

[Habs Icing]

It wasn't a question...

Okay so you make that statement/question on a Habs forum?