The Montreal Canadiens allegedly used Phillip Danault's wedding against him
The departure of Phillip Danault in 2021 was a difficult moment for Montreal Canadiens fans.
The Quebec-born player was highly loved by the fans, not only because he was from the region but also for his dedication on the ice.
Phillip Danault was a hardworking player in every game, helping his team both defensively and offensively.
His departure left a void for many who closely followed the Canadiens.
Marc Bergevin allegedly used Phillip Danault's wedding against him
It all started in 2018, during contract negotiations with Marc Bergevin, the former general manager of the Canadiens.
According to Anthony Marcotte, who spoke on the podcast Sans restriction, the discussions were complicated.
In fact, Danault's arbitration date for his contract was set just before his wedding, and negotiations dragged on until the last minute.
The Canadiens knew Phillip didn't want to face an arbitration hearing the day before his wedding, so he ended up accepting a three-year contract for $9,250,000.
They allegedly used Phillip Danault's wedding to disadvantage him in the negotiations.
This situation was described by Anthony Marcotte as the beginning of the end for Danault with the Canadiens. The relationship between the player and the team was never quite the same after that.
In 2021, at the end of his contract, Phillip Danault left Montreal to join the Los Angeles Kings, marking a turning point in his career. For many, it was a sign that the Canadiens had failed to recognize Danault's true value, leaving a bitter taste among Montreal fans.
Danault, 31, is a native of Victoriaville. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound forward, who was a first-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011, has accumulated 352 points in 634 career games in the NHL.
Last season, he collected 47 points, including 17 goals, in 78 games with the Los Angeles Kings.
He has three seasons left on his contract, which runs through 2027, paying him $5.5 million per year.
| POLL | ||
In your opinion, should the Montreal Canadiens have kept Phillip Danault? | ||
| Yes, he was essential to the team | 237 | 36.6 % |
| No, the departure was inevitable | 148 | 22.9 % |
| Maybe, but not at any price | 229 | 35.4 % |
| I'm not sure | 33 | 5.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
