The Los Angeles Kings are set to address the void left by Phillip Danault's departure from within the organization, at least for the time being. General Manager Ken Holland traded Danault to the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Danault's struggles this season, with zero goals and only five assists in 30 games, made him a less impactful player for the Kings. His diminished role on the penalty kill further contributed to the decision to seek a trade. Recognizing this, Holland moved quickly to finalize a deal before the NHL's holiday roster freeze.
Holland identified three potential internal candidates to fill Danault's role: Alex Turcotte, Alex Laferriere, and Samuel Helenius. While head coach Hiller will ultimately make the final lineup decisions, it appears Turcotte is slated to get the first opportunity as the third-line center, with Helenius centering the fourth line. Laferriere is expected to remain on the wing, currently playing on the first line alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
Early indications of a line featuring Kuzmenko, Turcotte, and Moore have been promising. The trio demonstrated strong control during games against Florida and Tampa Bay.
Danault, who is 32 years old, had been with the Kings for five seasons, amassing 70 goals and 200 points in 349 games. Throughout his 12-year NHL career, he has played in 741 regular-season games with the Kings, Canadiens, and Chicago Blackhawks, accumulating 125 goals and 399 points. He also brings a wealth of playoff experience, with 28 points in 62 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes expressed confidence that Danault would bounce back in his return to Montreal, despite his current struggles. Hughes highlighted Danault's past offensive contributions, including a 27-goal season in 2021-22 and a 57-point season in 2022-23 with the Kings. He also noted Danault's strong performance in the previous season's playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, where he focused on shutting down Connor McDavid.
With Danault's $5.5 million cap hit off the books, the Kings now have $9.3 million in salary cap space. They also possess a significant amount of draft capital, including three first-round picks and four second-round picks in the next three drafts. This gives Holland flexibility to potentially make further moves to bolster the roster.
While the Kings are initially looking internally to replace Danault, the long-term plan remains uncertain. With Kopitar's potential retirement at the end of the season, the Kings could face a shortage at the center position if they don't add talent through trades or internal development. The organization hopes that Byfield can emerge as a true No. 1 center and that Turcotte can develop into a top-six role.
