Phillip Danault was signed in the summer before the 2021-22 season and emerged as one of the most astute free-agent pickups in recent memory. After making a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, he earned respect around the league as a perennial Selke Trophy contender. With Danault and Anze Kopitar functioning as a formidable one-two punch at center, the Kings began to regain their reputation as a strong defensive team.
Danault’s first season with the Kings was exceptional. In 79 games, he recorded 27 goals, 24 assists, and 51 points, finishing with a +14 rating. His 27 goals shattered his previous career high of 13. For the first time, Danault also received powerplay opportunities in Los Angeles, transitioning from primarily being an even-strength producer and penalty killer throughout his career.
The following season showcased Danault’s growth. He set a new career-high with 54 points, bolstered by an impressive powerplay performance (3 goals, 17 assists, 20 points). He continued to solidify his position as one of the best free-agent additions, demonstrating a newfound scoring ability.
However, the Kings acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois, which dampened Danault’s point production as his powerplay point total plummeted (3g, 6a, 9p). He concluded the 2023-24 season with 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists, +12) over 78 games. The trio of Kopitar, Danault, and Dubois at center struggled to succeed in the playoffs, resulting in another first-round exit against the same opponent they faced the previous two years. Dubois was subsequently traded to Washington, where he has thrived, as indicated by a recent win against the Kings.
In the current season, Danault is on track for his lowest scoring total with the Kings, having accumulated 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists, +3) in 33 games. An early trend, yes, but how has his acquisition contributed to the Kings’ efforts under Rob Blake to contend for another Stanley Cup given three consecutive first-round exits? For Danault’s price tag of $5.5 million, his contract on the books for two more seasons, a modified trade clause, and his age at 31, does his signing still qualify as one of the best free-agent transactions?
Danault was part of Blake’s first series of bold initiatives to strengthen the Kings, alongside the additions of Viktor Arvidsson and Alexander Edler. That same year, the Kings pushed the Oilers to a game seven in their only closely contested series among the last three playoffs. Since then, their pursuit of a championship has faltered, particularly as they retain aging core players from their 2012 and 2014 championship teams while trading away valuable assets, resulting in an unclear direction.
This uncertainty has prompted management to pursue additional moves, such as trading for Kevin Fiala and Vladislav Gavrikov and acquiring Dubois. This strategy has resulted in losing first-round picks and top prospects without clear contention goals. Some of these players are impactful and highly valued, but to what extent have they propelled the team forward?
Adding centers like Danault and Dubois has also hindered the development of younger center prospects, whose numbers in the pipeline have dwindled over the last three seasons. Consequently, the Kings increasingly rely on aging players, like Kopitar, who is having an incredible renaissance season at 37 years old (34gp, 10g, 27a, 37p, +15).
With two more seasons remaining on Danault’s current contract, are the Kings on the edge of genuine contention or merely pretending? Danault is a well-rounded center who provides significant value but should not be expected to serve as a second-line center, especially as he ages. With Quinton Byfield taking over the center position this season, should Danault transition to a third-line center role next season, which might have been more suitable for him with another team with serious championship aspirations in 2021-22?
The answers remain unclear. As the team rests and resets during the Holiday Break, there are lingering doubts about whether their roster is adequately structured to succeed in the playoffs. Danault’s acquisition and placement is not the player’s fault but rather a reflection of the misjudgments made during his acquisition and a series of miscalculated moves that followed.
Danault will continue to contribute, even as his performance diminishes into his mid-thirties, and the organization will need to navigate this evolving situation as it unfolds.
