PHILLIP DANAULT PROVIDES UPDATE ON POSSIBLE NEW CONTRACT WITH MONTREAL

Phillip Danault has blossomed into an excellent two-way forward for the Montreal Canadiens. For the past two seasons, he's mostly centred the team's top line, putting up 40 to 50 points along the way. The 27-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2020-21, but there are no contract talks taking place with the Habs right now.

"At this point, there's no negotiations," said Danault on a Zoom call with media Tuesday.

Danault saw his status reduced to third line centre during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs as the Habs decided to give their younger centres more ice time. This didn't really sit well with Danault and he made it very clear that he believes he can be the team's top centerman. He addressed that situation while talking to the media Tuesday.

"I know who I am, and I know who I'm becoming...Ultimately, it's not my decision, but I'd like to stay in Montreal," said Danault.

He added he is living day-by-day and not worrying about it as much as he might have when he was younger.



Danault is a former first round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. He was sent to Montreal in a trade in February of 2016. His last contract extension was signed in 2018 and carries an average annual value of $3.08 million.