Canadiens re-acquire Phillip Danault from Kings for draft pick

With the NHL’s roster freeze looming, we actually managed to get a late-night trade on Friday.

The Montreal Canadiens have re-acquired forward Philip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick.

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The Canadiens have acquired forward Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. News release ↓ #GoHabsGo nhl.com/canadiens/news…

3:55 AM · Dec 20, 2025

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Danault played for the Canadiens from 2015-16 until 2021. His 53-point season in 2018-19 was the best of his career at that point, with his production slowly decreasing over the rest of his tenure. Danault played in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final with the Canadiens, registering four points in 22 playoff games.

The Victoriaville, Quebec native would sign with Los Angeles later that summer, where he managed to revive his career. He had 51 points in his first year before setting a new personal best of 54 in 2022-23. His production would slowly decrease over the next two years before reaching a new low this season. Danault has only managed five assists in 30 games with the Kings this season, putting him on a 13-point pace – the lowest of his career.

Danault, 32, will be a free agent after the 2026-27 season. He currently carries a $5.5 million cap hit.

From a roster needs perspective, the deal makes sense for Montreal. Both Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach are out long-term, leaving Montreal missing a true No. 2 center. While Danault has struggled in Los Angeles this year, perhaps a change of scenery – and an opportunity to play back home – could be the spark he needs to find his game again.

The Canadiens currently hold second place in the Atlantic Division, sitting just one point behind the Detroit Red Wings. The team is 5-4-1 over the past 10 games, but with the Eastern Conference as wild as it has been all season long, they’ve managed to stay relevant throughout the first half of the campaign.

The Habs will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night before finishing a home-and-home with the Pens on Sunday.

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