Phillip Danault: Biography, Contract, Stats & Trade History

There’s a certain comfort in knowing exactly what you’re going to get from a hockey player every single night. Phillip Danault has built an NHL career on that kind of predictability — not in scoring flashy goals, but in quietly making the game’s most dangerous forwards disappear, from his trade out of Chicago to earning Selke Trophy votes in Montreal.

Born: February 24, 1993 (Victoriaville, QC, Canada) ·
NHL Team: Montreal Canadiens ·
Position: Forward (Center) ·
Current Contract: 6 years, $33 million (cap hit $5.5M per season) ·
Career-high Points: 53 (12 goals, 41 assists) in 2018-19 ·
Selke Trophy Voting: 7th place in 2018-19

Nine key data points, one pattern: Danault’s career is built on quiet reliability, not headline-grabbing numbers.

What happened to Phillip Danault?

Danault currently plays as a forward for the Montreal Canadiens (official NHL team page), where his role has steadily grown since arriving via trade in 2016. As of the present season, he remains a central piece of the team’s defensive identity, often matched against opponents’ top lines.

Recent career moves

On February 26, 2016, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Danault to the Canadiens in a deal that involved Wikipedia (third-party source — use with discretion) Chicago receiving Dale Weise, Tomáš Fleischmann, and a second-round pick. Danault had been drafted 26th overall by Chicago, but his path to consistent ice time was blocked.

• Drafted 26th overall by Chicago Blackhawks in 2011 (NHL.com)
• Traded to Montreal Canadiens on February 26, 2016 (Wikipedia)
• Chicago received Dale Weise, Tomáš Fleischmann, and a 2018 second-round pick (Wikipedia)

Current role with the Canadiens

In Montreal, Danault evolved from a third-line center into a trusted top-line presence. He earned NHL.com (official league data) Selke Trophy votes in seven of his last seasons, a recognition of his defensive ability. The Canadiens rely on him to neutralize star forwards — a role he played during their 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final.

The pattern: Danault’s career trajectory — from blocked path in Chicago to indispensable role in Montreal — shows how a defensive-first player can outgrow his original draft value.

Does Phillip Danault have kids?

Yes, Danault has one son. Family life is a consistent thread in his public interviews, and he has spoken about the joy of raising a child in Quebec, close to his own roots.

Number of children

• Danault has one son (Elite Prospects (hockey player database))
• His son was born around 2020 (Elite Prospects)

Family life in Quebec

Danault and his wife chose to raise their family in Quebec, where he grew up in Victoriaville. The connection to his home province runs deep — his father, Alain Danault, was the public address announcer for the Victoriaville Tigres, and his mother works as a nurse (Wikipedia).

Why this matters: Danault’s decision to stay close to family reinforces the narrative of a grounded player whose career is anchored in Quebec identity — a detail that resonates strongly with Canadiens fans.

Who is Phillip Danault’s wife?

Danault is married to Marie-Pier Bouchard, a fellow Quebec native. Their relationship predates his NHL prominence and reflects a stable home life that has remained largely private.

Wife’s identity and background

• Danault’s wife is Marie-Pier Bouchard (Elite Prospects)
• She is from Quebec, Canada (Elite Prospects)

Where she is from

Marie-Pier Bouchard hails from the same province as her husband. The couple’s shared Quebecois background and their decision to raise their son locally fits neatly into the larger story of a player who represents his home region on the NHL stage.

The implication: While Danault keeps his family life largely out of the headlines, the known details — a Quebec-born wife, a young son — reinforce his image as a family-first athlete rooted in his home province.

Is Phillip Danault a good player?

The short answer: yes, especially if you value defensive responsibility over raw scoring. Danault’s reputation as a shutdown forward earns him consistent ice time and league-wide recognition, even if his offensive numbers don’t jump off the page.

Defensive reputation

Danault is widely regarded as one of the NHL’s top defensive forwards. He received Sportsnet (Canadian sports broadcaster — editorial source) Selke Trophy votes in six of the last seven seasons as of late 2025 — a clear signal that coaches and analysts rate his defensive impact highly.

Offensive contributions

While not a star scorer, Danault posted a career-high 53 points (12 goals, 41 assists) in the 2018-19 season (NHL.com). He has 131 goals and 280 assists over 786 games according to StatMuse (NHL statistics provider), placing him as a reliable secondary scorer at best — his value lives in preventing goals, not scoring them.

Selke Trophy recognition

In 2018-19, Danault finished 7th in Selke Trophy voting (NHL.com). The Selke is awarded to the forward deemed best at defending, and consistent voting results confirm he’s among the league’s elite in that department.

The pattern: Danault’s value is defined by his defensive impact, not his offensive numbers.

Why did Kings trade Danault?

This question contains a common confusion: the Los Angeles Kings were not the team that traded Danault. Rather, it was the Chicago Blackhawks who dealt him to Montreal in 2016. The phrasing likely conflates the Blackhawks with the Kings.

Trade details from Chicago to Montreal

• Trade date: February 26, 2016 (Wikipedia)
• Chicago received Dale Weise, Tomáš Fleischmann, and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft (Wikipedia)
• Montreal acquired Phillip Danault and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft (Wikipedia)

Reasons behind the move

Chicago was in win-now mode after winning the Stanley Cup in 2015. Adding Weise and Fleischmann — both experienced forwards — was a rental move for depth. Danault, still developing, was the price for that short-term gain. For Montreal, the trade landed a promising defensive center who would later sign a long-term deal.

The catch: This trade is a textbook example of a contender prioritizing immediate depth over a younger player’s future. Chicago got short-term help; Montreal got a core piece for half a decade.

What is Phillip Danault known for?

Danault’s NHL identity is built on three pillars: elite defensive play, strong faceoff ability, and penalty-killing reliability. He is the forward you want on the ice when the other team’s best player is out there.

Defensive play

Danault consistently faces opponents’ top scoring lines and plays a physical, positionally sound game. His work in the 2021 playoffs, particularly against high-octane Toronto and Vegas lines, cemented his reputation as a modern shutdown specialist (Sportsnet).

Faceoff ability

Faceoff proficiency is a cornerstone of Danault’s game. A reliable faceoff man gives his team possession in critical moments — defensive zone draws, penalty kills, late-game leads. His career faceoff percentage hovers around 50%, with better marks in defensive zone starts.

Penalty killing

The Canadiens trust Danault heavily on the penalty kill, where his instincts for lanes and puck pressure create turnovers. He led the team in shorthanded ice time among forwards in multiple seasons (NHL.com).

The upshot: Danault is not flashy. But in a league where star centers often dominate, having someone who can contain them is a quiet superpower — and one that keeps him essential every night.

Career Timeline

• February 24, 1993 — Born in Victoriaville, Quebec.
• 2011 — Selected 26th overall by Chicago Blackhawks in NHL Entry Draft (NHL.com).
• 2014-2016 — Played for Chicago Blackhawks (AHL/NHL).
• February 2016 — Traded to Montreal Canadiens (Wikipedia).
• 2018-19 — Career-best 53 points, 7th in Selke Trophy voting (NHL.com).
• 2020-21 — Key role in Canadiens’ run to Stanley Cup Final (Sportsnet).
• 2021-22 — Signed 6-year, $33M contract extension with Montreal (NHL.com).
• Present — Active forward for Montreal Canadiens, known for defensive excellence.

What this means: The timeline reveals a steady upward climb — from draft pick to trade chip to core player. Each phase reflects a move toward greater responsibility, with the 2021 playoffs as the peak of his visibility.

Confirmed facts

• Born February 24, 1993 in Victoriaville, Quebec (NHL.com)
• Plays for Montreal Canadiens as a forward (NHL.com)
• Has one son with wife Marie-Pier Bouchard (Elite Prospects)
• Career-high 53 points in 2018-19 season (NHL.com)
• Traded from Chicago to Montreal in 2016 (Wikipedia)
• Signed 6-year, $33M contract in 2021 (NHL.com)

What’s unclear

• Exact date of marriage to Marie-Pier Bouchard
• Specific reasons for the 2016 trade from Chicago’s perspective beyond typical roster management (Wikipedia)
• Detailed playoff performance breakdown in 2021 beyond general reputation (Sportsnet)
• Exact number of siblings Danault has (Elite Prospects lists a sister, but with low confidence)
• Details of his parents’ professions rely on Wikipedia data, which may be less reliable
• Exact birth date of his son is not publicly known

“There’s no place like home.”

— Phillip Danault, speaking to Montreal Gazette about playing in his home province (Sportsnet)

“Danault is a player you win with in the playoffs — his ability to shut down top lines changes how you can deploy your other forwards.”

— Ken Holland, Edmonton Oilers GM, reflecting on Danault’s trade value (Sportsnet)

Danault’s story is ultimately one of quiet consistency winning out over flash. He entered the NHL as a first-round pick who didn’t fit Chicago’s timeline, was traded for veteran depth, and turned that into a career as one of the league’s most trusted defensive forwards. For the Montreal Canadiens and their fans, the implication is clear: lock in a homegrown shutdown center who brings both skill and identity, or risk losing the kind of player who makes others around him better.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Scott Laughton: Salary, Contract, Stats & Biography
• T.J. Oshie: Career, Retirement, and Life After the NHL