Heading into this off-season, the most pressing contract negotiation facing the Montreal Canadiens was that of Phillip Danault, who was a restricted free agent in an interesting position. He is without a doubt the best centre on the Canadiens roster, even if his offensive numbers aren’t sky high. He fits in well, however, serving as a player who can handle top-six minutes at both ends of the ice, and at just 25 years old he’s entering the prime of his career.
Danault’s new three-year deal is a great fit in more ways than one, the first being that the money and term it carries are spot-on for both sides.