Kings sign Phillip Danault for 6 years

[BDTR]

I didn’t watch any of the playoffs last season (just followed via online threads and articles), so I didn’t get to watch Danault play. When we signed him I was initially shocked at the term and was concerned for about an hour. Then I started seeing the logic in having him slot guys into more appropriate spots and give Kopitar a break on D. I thought this was all fine, but I still wasn’t hyped, just curious to see how it would play out.

After watching him play a few games… holy ****, I ****ing LOVE this guy! This dude goes balls to the wall AND has such high hockey IQ it’s pretty astounding. They’re definitely not the same player, but this really feels like a Mike Richards-esque acquisition. The dude oozes culture and is essentially the encyclopedic definition of “hockey player”. Even if he underperforms offensively, Danault will still be one of the most exciting players on the team IMO. Huge kudos to Blake and co for targeting him, I can’t wait to see how he and the team grow with each other.

 

[hokiecat]

Yeah, but I put my Fandom on hold when I found out Ovi's a huge Putin supporter.

Anyway, I don't think Halpern ever played 1st line and always belonged on the 3rd or 4th line. Danault has proven he can be 1C on a Cup finalist...so there's that.

But I get what you mean. OTOH, Danault doesn't have to get a bunch of points to be a legit 2C (or worth his contract as a 3C). Gourde scored 10g & 20a in 2019-20 and was worth every penny of his $5.1M.

I still think the term and price are both too high. Yes, Halpen-Kono-Dahlen was 3rd line behind Oates and whoever was centering Bondra (Pivo or Niko). And Danault was centering the Canadiens first line but he's not a 1C. Team's don't let a 1C walk as a UFA for nothing. Those guys get locked up if the team wants to keep them. But I'm not looking to rehash that again but rather to wonder aloud is Danault is really an elite shutdown center (in which case you're probably right that he's worth it as a 2C/3C if he makes his line elite for the role and enables Kopi/Vilardi/kids to have easier zone starts) or if he's a good shutdown center who had awesome chemistry with his wingers (in which case the price and term are too high).

For what party, yes until 2018, Caps Fandom consisted of a run to the Wales finals in 1990 and being swept and the Cup finals in 1998 and being swept. Every time they had a great accomplishment, it ended with losing in a sweep. But 2018 was awesome. With Game 5 being in Vegas I was able to drive there and witness the streak being snapped. I got to meet Jagr after the game, told him I drove in from LA to watch the victory and got asked, "why the hell are you a Caps fan if you live in Los Angeles?". Good times!

 

[What party?]

I still think the term and price are both too high. Yes, Halpen-Kono-Dahlen was 3rd line behind Oates and whoever was centering Bondra (Pivo or Niko). And Danault was centering the Canadiens first line but he's not a 1C. Team's don't let a 1C walk as a UFA for nothing. Those guys get locked up if the team wants to keep them. But I'm not looking to rehash that again but rather to wonder aloud is Danault is really an elite shutdown center (in which case you're probably right that he's worth it as a 2C/3C if he makes his line elite for the role and enables Kopi/Vilardi/kids to have easier zone starts) or if he's a good shutdown center who had awesome chemistry with his wingers (in which case the price and term are too high).

For what party, yes until 2018, Caps Fandom consisted of a run to the Wales finals in 1990 and being swept and the Cup finals in 1998 and being swept. Every time they had a great accomplishment, it ended with losing in a sweep. But 2018 was awesome. With Game 5 being in Vegas I was able to drive there and witness the streak being snapped. I got to meet Jagr after the game, told him I drove in from LA to watch the victory and got asked, "why the hell are you a Caps fan if you live in Los Angeles?". Good times!

You bastard. I just spent an unspecified amount of time on hockeydb trying to figure out 1) where Adam Oates played prior to Washington (shut it, i know now) and 2)how they got to the finals with that roster in 98. Hint: the goaltender. And, Ken Klee would have been a funnier reference than Esa.

Nod to a different era: this team had on the roster Chris Simon, Craig Berube, Brendon Witt and Joe Juneau at the same time; sweet jesus.

Nice Jagr story and he had a point. =) Glad you had fun.

 

[jt]

*cabin pressure dropping* Time before I knew Bure was on that list, five seconds ago. gawd damn it, jt.

[Cher song playing in my head now]

So before the ALLCAPS win your only joy for Washington was the cup run with Coach Wilson (right?) and Esa Tikkanen? oof. That's commitment.

Yeah...sorry...

You have no idea. EIGHT wins in 80 games in 1974-75. I'd have to check again but I think that's the worst win % of any non-NFL pro team ever.

 

[jt]

Every time they had a great accomplishment, it ended with losing in a sweep.

...or a 3-1 collapse. F'n Pens (92 & 94).

 

[jom]

Yeah...sorry...

You have no idea. EIGHT wins in 80 games in 1974-75. I'd have to check again but I think that's the worst win % of any non-NFL pro team ever.

The 75 Caps were awful but in their defense they were awarded a franchise at the back end of the NHL adding 12 teams in 8 years. There was little to choose from other than guys who would have only looked good in the movie "Slapshot".

jom

 

[jt]

Ok ok. The Islanders say hi.

 

[jom]

Ok ok. The Islanders say hi.

Again, in their defense the Caps were the "rule" so to speak. Out of the 12 teams that were added in that stretch the only teams that really did well out of the gate (exceptions to the "rule") were Philly, NYI and probably Buffalo. Most of the other teams sucked for the most part. It all came down to drafting and most of the teams were poor at it (Caps etc) or traded the picks (Hello Kings!).

jom

 

[What party?]

Yeah...sorry...

You have no idea. EIGHT wins in 80 games in 1974-75. I'd have to check again but I think that's the worst win % of any non-NFL pro team ever.

Heh. I can imagine. But you seem like an advanced stats person so I'm sure even bad teams create "interesting numbers". There is no shame in something holding your attention for weird reasons.

[LGK enters the chat]

 

[Helvetica]

An incredible stat from last preseason game...

Iafallo has skated with forwards Danault and Adrian Kempe on a line throughout the majority of training camp, forming the team’s new-look second line. The line was perhaps the best for the Kings in the first period on Saturday evening, and throughout the game they controlled more than 80 percent of shot attempts, conceding just two as a line during the entire game.

The Ducks had 28 shots on goal for the game. Looks like that line played about 12-13:00 min of even strength, which was slightly more than the bottom 6, but a full 4-5min behind the Kopitar line at even strength.

 

[Helvetica]

Another interesting, and i guess somewhat expected stat:

23. It’s only two games, but it bears watching: Anze Kopitar’s offensive-zone starting percentage is 64. Last four years, it was 48, 42, 48 and 46. As a team, the Kings have 46 offensive zone faceoffs, 37 neutral-zone and 31 defensive so far, so you expect the numbers to skew that direction. However, opponents watching them can see the plan, the Danault Effect. Per Natural Stat Trick, when Kopitar was on the ice last year, LA’s scoring-chance percentage was 48. If this continues, he’ll be well over it, good news for the Kings and bad news for the rest of the Pacific Division.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/32-thoughts-nhl-create-salary-cap-exceptions/

 

[Helvetica]

I think that's everyone's real concern here. Term and money aside, this is a great fit. Doe sit accomplish what they want to accomplish? remains to be seen, because on paper, this should allow better matchups, more control of the puck, and more scoring opportunity. How long will he continue to play at this level? We won't know until it happens. If he craters in another year or two, this looks not good. If he slowly declines, this should be fairly good. If he can maintain this level of play at 4 yrs+, i think this winds up being an incredible move for Blake. But we won't have these answers until later. Right now, I like it. But i'm definitely planning to revisit this topic at the end of the coming season.

This thread has been an absolute joy to revisit...

 

[Kurisu]

So Blake added two Top 6 players and a top 4 left shot dman and it didn't cost him any of the top prospects. I'd say it's been the best summer of Blake's GM run.

If the Kings stay healthy they should make the playoffs. The team is going to be a lot more fun to watch next season. Not exactly high flying but they're going to win plenty of games.

How good does this prediction look now? We didn't even stay healthy and STILL exceeded the thinking from last July.

 

[K-Man #32]

One of the best free agent signings in our existence

 

[Kurisu]

Thinking about this again and still incredibly grateful he ended up with us.

Can you imagine if he brought the season he had with us to one of the heavily favored teams in the playoffs this year? Some of those teams that were already favored would be juggernauts with his complete game in the mix.