The Kings traded center Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick, originally owned by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
There was no salary retained on the deal, which means the Kings shed $5.5 million off their cap for this season and next.
RG Media’s Marco D’Amico reported earlier this week that Danault had not only requested a trade, but requested it prior to the one-week roster freeze set to take effect Saturday. On Friday, the Kings honored Danault’s request.
Danault arrived in Los Angeles from Montreal, mere weeks after helping the Habs on a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. In his first season as a King, he earned team MVP honors, expanding his offensive role immensely while continuing to provide Selke Trophy-caliber defense.
As recently as last spring, Danault was a core player, letting his two-way play impact the Kings as favorably as any forward during a six-game elimination at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers that saw them reverse swept after taking a 2-0 lead.
But Danault has gone 38 regular-season games without a goal, dating to last season, and produced just five assists this year. He missed the Kings’ overtime home loss to Calgary with the flu last Saturday and never joined the team on the road as the Kings and Canadiens pushed toward a resolution.
Now, he’ll return to his native province, Quebec, and join a youthful, ascendant club assembled by Kent Hughes, the successor to Kings advisor Marc Bergevin as Montreal’s GM.