'A lot of hard feelings': Elliotte Friedman reveals the truth behind Phillip Danault trade
Photo credit: The Daily News
Per a new report from NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman, there was bad blood between the Los Angeles Kings and Phillip Danault before he was traded back to Montreal.
The Montreal Canadiens recently re-acquired forward Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings, bringing him back to where he previously played earlier in his NHL career.
But per a new report from NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman on his most recent '32 Thoughts' podcast, there were "hard feelings" between Danault and the Kings leading up to the trade and that it was a messy split.
32 Thoughts (Dec 22): Elliotte says "I gotta tell you, I think that exit between Danault and the Kings was not pretty." Says there were a lot of hard feelings on both sides and it shows since it's hard to find C on the market and they traded him. - NHL Trade Alert
It had been a struggle for Danault so far this year with the Kings before being traded back to Montreal, as he only had five assists and no goals in 30 games.
Kings GM Ken Holland Said It Was A Fresh Opportunity In A Familiar Place For Danault After The Trade
Addressing the trade of Danault to the Canadiens, Kings GM Ken Holland said that a change needed to be made and that he could rediscover the success he had earlier in his career while wearing a Habs sweater.
This was a decision that needed [to be made], that I made. In talking to Allan Walsh, in talking to Phil, his role changed and it's been a struggleit's been a struggle here offensively for Phil. It's about Christmas here and he has no goals and five assists. We found a trading partner here that I think is going to be good for Phil, he gets to go back to a city where he had a lot of successit gives him a fresh opportunity. - Ken Holland
Danault was taken by the Chicago Blackhawks with the 26th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but would eventually be traded to the Canadiens in 2016 for Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann.
Weise was part of the Habs team that went to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, but then signed a six year deal with the Kings weeks later in the summer of 2021.
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DECEMBRE 22|708 ANSWERS 'A lot of hard feelings': Elliotte Friedman reveals the truth behind Phillip Danault trade Did the Canadiens or Kings win the trade? | ||
| Kings | 206 | 29.1 % |
| Canadiens | 502 | 70.9 % |
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