Phillip Danault’s start to the season is forcing a second look at a prediction that didn’t seem especially bold a month ago.
Before the season, Stu Cowan said on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro that this would be the 33-year-old center’s final year with the Canadiens. Cowan also said he didn’t think Montreal would be upset if Danault walked away for nothing when the season ended.
Danault, who carries a $5.5 million cap hit and is in the final year of his six-year contract, has made that idea harder to defend with the way he’s opened the year.
His strong play has made it fair to ask whether Cowan still feels the same way.
Cowan’s reasoning was tied to age. At 33, he pointed to the reality that time eventually catches up with players, especially those who block shots and spend so much time in traffic, which is exactly the kind of game Danault plays.
But the early results have told a different story.
With Nick Suzuki out of the lineup, Danault’s responsibilities have expanded, and his importance to the Canadiens has become even more obvious. His performance has strengthened the case for Montreal to consider keeping him around.
Marco D’Amico believes a two-year contract extension would make perfect sense.
Cowan may have been right about one part of it, though: Danault probably wouldn’t bring back much in a trade. The return would likely be limited to a late-round draft pick, which only makes his value to the Canadiens as a player in the lineup look even greater.
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Canadiens Face Another Center Decision At The Worst Time
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Nick Suzukis return remains up in the air because of injury, which leaves the Canadiens with more questions than answers at a key position. Owen Beck could be asked to handle center duties again, giving Montreal a familiar stopgap while it waits for its top options to get healthy and back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]