Phillip Danault isn’t entertaining the idea that this is his last run in Montreal.
The 33-year-old Canadiens veteran made that much clear when Stu Cowan began asking about the final year of his contract. Danault cut him off before the question could even land.
“No, it's not my last year... I'm not done after this year, Stu. It's not my last year."
That’s the message Danault wants out there, even if some around the team still view this season as a potential farewell tour. He says he plans to make sure it doesn’t end that way.
There’s also a belief inside the organization that Danault can still give more than he showed in his previous season, and Martin St-Louis wants to help bring that out. St-Louis said the Canadiens are aiming to free up more of Danault’s offense while still leaning on the parts of his game that already make him valuable.
"Obviously, he killed penalties for us, big faceoffs,” St. Louis said about Danault's role last season.
"More defensive-stuff assignments, but we know he's got an offensive game as well. And I think we have plenty of depth to maximize Phil in his defensive responsibilities, but also encourage the offensive side of things because he can play."
Kent Hughes also made a notable move last year by bringing Danault back from Los Angeles in exchange for a second-round pick, and Danault rewarded that decision in the playoffs. He posted 10 points in 19 games, finished at plus-3, and won 58.4 percent of his faceoffs.
Danault says he’s not interested in letting last season define him. He called it a tough year, but insists he’s in a much better place now.
"I can't base my career on my last year. It was difficult in many areas of my life.
And this year, I'm all set mentally and I'm back and I feel energized more than ever. I think Marty had the best year of his career at 32 or 34 years old.
So I have a lot to give."
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Canadiens Weigh A Lineup Change After One Costly Mistake
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The discussion has been sharpened by a recent penalty from Alexandre Texier, a mistake that drew criticism and may force the coaching staff to rethink its forward group. The Canadiens are still weighing their options, but the decision window is closing, and this one could turn into a meaningful early-season test of how much they want to reward camp performance versus stick with the current lineup. [Read more 🡒]