The New Jersey Devils are heavy in the market for a center. Of the several names they’ve placed calls on in a potential Devils trade, the latest is out of Los Angeles in what looks like an impending divorce.
Phillip Danault has been a healthy scratch for the Los Angeles Kings in their last four games. He’s struggled offensively this season, netting no goals through 30 games, and has five helpers.
According to NHL Insider, Pierre LeBrun, via TSN Insider Trading, New Jersey has at least inquired about the veteran center in a potential Devils trade.
“They’re getting calls on Phillip Danault. It’s been out there over the last week,” LeBrun explained. “Allan Walsh (Danault’s agent) brought light to it when he said his client Phillip Danault has not asked for a trade. But, that doesn’t mean he won’t get traded. The fact is, the Kings are getting a lot of calls on him. It’s a complicated situation. He’s not a rental player. He’s got another year on his deal at $5.5 million. For the Kings, it’s not like they’re a seller. They’re a perennial playoff team, and they intend to be in the playoffs again. If they trade Phillip Danault, they told teams they need help. They need offense. We don’t want draft picks and prospects that won’t help them today. They would rather make a deal that’s a traditional hockey deal where they get help now. I don’t know how easy that is to do, especially in the next 24 hours. It might be something that needs to play out between now and March 6th.”
LeBrun reinforced among the teams that have called the Kings about Danuault are the Devils. The NHL insider also named the Montreal Canadiens as a possibility in a potential return to the Habs, and the Utah Mammoth.
As LeBrun mentioned, Danault has one year remaining on his contract after 2025-26 at $5.5 million. He owns a 10-team no-trade list, which could present a potential hurdle. However, it’s unlikely Danault nixes a deal at this point.
Previous to this season, Danault is somewhat of a regular 40-50-point collector. He scored eight goals and 35 assists last season. However, Danault is touted as a two-way center. He owns plus defensive metrics, and although the offense is thin right now, he’s better than what’s being shown on paper.
LeBrun mentioning the Kings are looking for a hockey trade, and that could actually work in the Devils’ favor. General manager Tom Fitzgerald via Devils trade is looking to move one, or both, Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat to address their center and top-six needs. Acquiring Danault could kill two birds with one stone.
Palat and Danault own similar contracts, both ending July 1st, 2027, with a difference of just $500K between their respective cap hits.
Danault playing behind Jack Hughes (when healthy) and Nico Hischier in addition to Cody Glass would certainly give the Devils a strong center presence.
The NHL Holiday Freeze goes into effect at midnight tonight.
