Kings sign Phillip Danault for 6 years

[santiclaws]

From the Athletic:

"DANAULT CAN'T PRODUCE OFFENSE"
5?5 POINTS PER 60 LAST THREE SEASONS:
AHO – 2.16
SCHIEFELE – 2.14
DANAULT – 2.14
GIROUX – 2.09
EICHEL – 2.07

5?5 PRIMARY ASSISTS PER 60 LAST THREE SEASONS:
BARKOV – .95
DANAULT – .93
DRAISAITL – .9
BACKSTROM – .88
BARZAL – .86

Also, check out these 5 on 5 stats from last season. The Kings needed help and guess where they got it.

 

[Bill Hicks]

Some opinions from TSN

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/kings-sign-danault-to-six-year-33m-contract~2227880

also an interview with Phil.

I really like this signing. Gotta create a culture of team 1st and he does that
and proved it in the playoffs by sacrificing his offensive game for the team.

 

[LAKingSteve]

From Dan Rosen via NHL.com

https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-free-agency-first-day-takeaways-analysis/c-325862078

Danault key addition for Kings

The Los Angeles Kings signing center Phillip Danault to a six-year, $33 million contract ($5.5 million AAV) could go down as one of the sneaky-good moves of the day.

The center is an annual candidate for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the player voted the best defensive forward in the NHL. The 28-year-old is seventh in the NHL in face-off wins (2,086) the past three seasons, all with the Montreal Canadiens.

He will play behind center Anze Kopitar, who is third in the NHL in face-off wins (2,439) in that span.

It's safe to say the Kings will have the puck a lot when one of their top two lines is on the ice.

Danault will ease some of the responsibilities that Kopitar has essentially shouldered alone for the past few seasons, which should make the Los Angeles captain fresher and better in the long run.

Danault's presence also buys the Kings more time for the development of centers Quinton Byfield, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, and Alex Turcotte, the No. 5 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. It could also keep Gabriel Vilardi as the third-line center.

 

[waynet]

Nathan MacKinnon, in the vid when asked about the guy most difficult to play against, "Danault". Good enough for me. Great addition to a team in need of some great additions.

 

[Pickle_Pucks]

Danault's 5x5 points / assists are insane. Shows how much the top guys really cash in on PP points.

 

[stadlere]

Reading this thread reminds of a bratty child that opened up a sweet gift Christmas morning that they are unhappy with and the parents need to explain to them why the gift is so good. Sorry kids, the gift wasn't on the top 5 big ticket items for Christmas this year along with the Beanie Babies, but it will be much more useful to you.

Headline:
Philip Danault signs 6 year contract with the Kings


LGK Board (collective thoughts after news broke):
What are we doing!!! 6 years!!! The guy can?t score goals!! Blake is an idiot!! Hello basement of the NHL again!!!!

Hockey media experts/analysts thoughts:
What a sneaky good deal?..I like this pick up for the Kings?.he will provide great value?..


LGK Board (collective thoughts after media analysis):
Great pickup!!!

 

[Helvetica]

From the Athletic:

"DANAULT CAN'T PRODUCE OFFENSE"
5?5 POINTS PER 60 LAST THREE SEASONS:
AHO – 2.16
SCHIEFELE – 2.14
DANAULT – 2.14
GIROUX – 2.09
EICHEL – 2.07

5?5 PRIMARY ASSISTS PER 60 LAST THREE SEASONS:
BARKOV – .95
DANAULT – .93
DRAISAITL – .9
BACKSTROM – .88
BARZAL – .86

Also, check out these 5 on 5 stats from last season. The Kings needed help and guess where they got it.

Im curious now if they wind up playing Arvidson on his wing. I'd love to see Kopitar get some better scoring wingers, but there's no arguing that that iaffalo/kopitar/Brown line has been reasonably productive. Does Denault wind up with Arvidson and Kempe?

 

[jammer06]

Im curious now if they wind up playing Arvidson on his wing. I'd love to see Kopitar get some better scoring wingers, but there's no arguing that that iaffalo/kopitar/Brown line has been reasonably productive. Does Denault wind up with Arvidson and Kempe?

Danault can have Arvidsson if Kopitar gets the arty party

 

[aaron]

Not at all, I have been a Whalers/Canes supporter for ages. Hamilton is a secondary player who provides terrific offense, but he is not a driver. Norris? Not even close, he has never even been a team's second best defenseman much less the best in the league.

7th and 4th in voting the last 2 years. 14th, 14th, 9th the 3 years before that.
You don't rate the guy. Fine. The evidence suggests otherwise.

 

[jammer06]

7th and 4th in voting the last 2 years. 14th, 14th, 9th the 3 years before that.
You don't rate the guy. Fine. The evidence suggests otherwise.

Obviously if a guy has an interest in museums hes as worthless as Mitchell and his interests in fishing

 

[DryKing]

Not at all, I have been a Whalers/Canes supporter for ages. Hamilton is a secondary player who provides terrific offense, but he is not a driver. Norris? Not even close, he has never even been a team's second best defenseman much less the best in the league.

If Karlsson and Burns can win the Norris then there is no reason to think that Hamilton cannot. Also to say that he hasn't even been his team's second best defensemen is just plain silly. The last two seasons he has been one of the most impactful defensemen in the league and therein worthy of Norris consideration.

 

[Dr. Tran]

I may not like the dollar amount, the length, or the NTC but I like the player so I like the deal. He takes the pressure off of Kopi from having to go against the top centers or taking defensive zone face offs. None of our centers were ready for that role. And he was a big factor in Montreal getting past Toronto, Winnipeg, & Vegas into the Finals. I was thinking before I saw this signing was that if the Kings want quality they have to pay for quality. And they did. We’ll see at the end of the contract if this is a good deal but for now I’d say yes.

 

[Statue4Deano]

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.

 

[DryKing]

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.

Agreed, he delivered on his promise and didn't trade away any of the prospect pool to do it. Also, in spending the Kings Organization showed dedication to winning and not just cruising through another season. Between the FA signings, draft selections, and the Organizations show of commitment towards building long term success while not overlooking the present I'm very impressed with Blake and team this off season.

 

[VCRW]

Danault can have Arvidsson if Kopitar gets the arty party

Im curious now if they wind up playing Arvidson on his wing. I'd love to see Kopitar get some better scoring wingers, but there's no arguing that that iaffalo/kopitar/Brown line has been reasonably productive. Does Denault wind up with Arvidson and Kempe?

The Mayor's article today speculates Iafallo-Kopitar-Arvidsson and Kempe-Danault-Brown will be the top 2 lines. Don't see Brown playing on that 2nd line at all. DB should be on the 3rd line with Vilardi and AA. Moore or Lias might be a better match for Kempe and Danault.

 

[DryKing]

The Mayor's article today speculates Iafallo-Kopitar-Arvidsson and Kempe-Danault-Brown will be the top 2 lines. Don't see Brown playing on that 2nd line at all. DB should be on the 3rd line with Vilardi and AA. Moore or Lias might be a better match for Kempe and Danault.

Yeah that would make more sense though I would like to see Brown remain with Kopitar and Iafallo move to the third line with whatever young center we place there (Vilardi or Byfield). Iafallo looked much better when he was not playing against opposing top line talent and would make for an excellent safety net.

Brown - Kopitar - Arvidsson
Kempe - Danault - AA

 

[Helvetica]

The Mayor's article today speculates Iafallo-Kopitar-Arvidsson and Kempe-Danault-Brown will be the top 2 lines. Don't see Brown playing on that 2nd line at all. DB should be on the 3rd line with Vilardi and AA. Moore or Lias might be a better match for Kempe and Danault.

Yeah i think ideally, Brown plays on the 3rd line. I suspect we're going to see him play in the top 6 for about as long as he can continue to score at last season's pace. If that falls off (which certainly seems plausible) then i cant fathom how they'd continue to play him anywhere other than the 3rd line. The 2nd line option seems really odd to me, because it seems like you'd either bank on his chemistry with Kopitar, or you slot him into a much more fitting role on the 3rd line.

 

[What party?]

Yeah i think ideally, Brown plays on the 3rd line. I suspect we're going to see him play in the top 6 for about as long as he can continue to score at last season's pace. If that falls off (which certainly seems plausible) then i cant fathom how they'd continue to play him anywhere other than the 3rd line. The 2nd line option seems really odd to me, because it seems like you'd either bank on his chemistry with Kopitar, or you slot him into a much more fitting role on the 3rd line.

 

[Sultanic]

If Karlsson and Burns can win the Norris then there is no reason to think that Hamilton cannot. Also to say that he hasn't even been his team's second best defensemen is just plain silly. The last two seasons he has been one of the most impactful defensemen in the league and therein worthy of Norris consideration.

And he was third in total impact, well behind Slavin and Pesce. Like I said before, he is a weapon, not a driver.

Karlsson is a good comparable, though Hamilton is a diet version. I am sure nobody here would argue that Karlsson was more valuable than Doughty despite flashier numbers. Hamilton is lethal on the PP and can get shots through with the best of them, but the rest of his game is ordinary - at best.

 

[hokiecat]

And he was third in total impact, well behind Slavin and Pesce. Like I said before, he is a weapon, not a driver.

Karlsson is a good comparable, though Hamilton is a diet version. I am sure nobody here would argue that Karlsson was more valuable than Doughty despite flashier numbers. Hamilton is lethal on the PP and can get shots through with the best of them, but the rest of his game is ordinary - at best.

LOLZ. Go ahead and make up phoney stats. Meanwhile the entire hockey world voted Hamilton 4th for the Norris while Slavin and Pesce were in the teens. Even Sarah Civian had him 4th and neither of the other Canes were on her ballot. Hamilton had the highest Corsi and RelCorsi on the Canes defense too. Highest +/-. Most hits on the defense. Hamilton finished tops on his team and 11th in the league in points shares last season. Both the old-fashioned and fancy stats illustrate that he is a top defenseman who was available for nothing but money. And he signed at market value-- less than Jones and Werenski.

He's just like Erik Karlsson?!? Aside from being 6'6" and 227 while Karlsson is average sized.

Per Dom, the Hamilton deal was the best signing of the day. And it was hands down. The Devils get an elite defenseman at market price for nothing!

Dougie Hamilton: It’s not often the most lucrative contract of the day is the best one. Generally, there’s a good chance it’s the worst. That’s not the case with Hamilton, who has long been underrated by Hockey Men everywhere and is now on a potential good value deal as a result. That he was paid $500,000 per season less than Seth Jones is truly bewildering given the past two seasons for both players. Hamilton is better than Jones. Full stop. There was maybe an argument for it before last season, but not anymore. I will not be listening to anything suggesting the contrary.