NHL Rumor Mill – December 15, 2025
Will the Canadiens bring back Phillip Danault? Does Brandon Bussi’s performance for the Hurricanes make Frederik Andersen expendable? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD DANAULT RETURN TO THE CANADIENS?
SPORTS ON PRIME CANADA: NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently said the Montreal Canadiens were among the teams interested in center Phillip Danault of the Los Angeles Kings.
Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault (NHL Images).
The 32-year-old Danault played for the Canadiens from 2016-17 to 2020-21. He signed a five-year contract with the Kings as a free agent in July 2021. The deal has an average annual value of $5.5 million and a 10-team no-trade list.
Seravalli suggested keeping an eye on the Canadiens. He pointed out that he was a valuable player for them in the past, and is having a difficult season with the Kings. Seravalli also believes the two-way center could be moved sooner than we think, possibly before the upcoming NHL holiday roster freeze from Dec. 20 to 27.
TVA SPORTS: Jonathan Bernier stated the Kings have reportedly made Danault available in the trade market. He indicated that NHL sources had informed him that the veteran center was eager to return to Montreal.
Bernier believes adding Danault would improve the Canadiens’ defensive system, their poor penalty killing, and their need for experienced depth at center. He claimed that Danault isn’t getting along with Kings head coach Jim Hiller, suggesting that is the reason behind the center’s struggles this season.
However, Bernier doesn’t think it’s a good idea for the Kings to move Danault while center and team captain Anze Kopitar is playing his final NHL season. He believes the Kings would want a young center in return for Danault.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: On Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported several sources indicated the Kings weren’t inclined to trade Danault without good reason, because it’s so hard to find good centers. Despite Danault’s struggles this season, Friedman noted that he’s a proven playoff performer for the Kings.
Eyebrows were raised on Saturday when Danault was scratched from the Kings’ lineup, but Friedman said it was due to illness.
COULD BUSSI’S STRONG PLAY FOR THE HURRICANES MAKE ANDERSEN A TRADE CANDIDATE?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau suggested that goaltender Brandon Bussi’s strong performance for the Carolina Hurricanes should make veteran netminder Frederik Andersen a trade candidate.
Proteau acknowledged that carrying the trio of Bussi, Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov is a luxury most teams don’t have. However, the lack of goalie depth in the trade market could make Andersen a valuable trade chip.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Proteau also pointed out that Andersen’s injury history limited him to just 38 games throughout the previous two seasons. Nevertheless, there could be teams willing to take the risk to provide some experienced short-term depth to their goaltending.
Is Bussi for real, or is he just a minor league goalie that teams haven’t solved yet?
Lots of teams are probably wondering why he passed through waivers without putting a claim in on him
I wouldn’t give up too much for Danault. He would certainly help the Habs defensively but his offensive game has fallen off a cliff. He will be 33 soon and has one more year left on his deal at $5.5m. The Kings would have to retain half and I don’t see them doing that. And they won’t give him away. Maybe there’d be a deal to be had in the off season but not now.
Howard, I agree. I wouldn’t give up anything for him.
Indications are that Kapanen can become a 2C, as he and Demidov are growing together. If I am too optimistic then he is a dead lock for a 3C. Last night showed how good Evans can be defensively. So where is there room for another defensive center?
True that the Habs penalty killing this year is poor, but how much of that is on the bad goaltending and the propensity of the Habs to take too many penalties (third in the league!!).
Line ups can always be improved, but if a center comes the Habs way – which is unlikely – it would be someone who brings offence.
Danault for Struble. LA kicks in a 2nd for taking on the cap hit. Done deal
Under the circumstances, Struble is an overpay.
Dach for Danault (minus 33% salary).
As if you get dach for danuault WITH a 33% discount. I think you’re forgetting how hard it is to find a center
LMAO. Danault is 32. Struble is 24. Danault makes 5.5. Struble? Less than 900k. I’d take Danault at 1 MM. Otherwise pass on the old dude.
Daneault for either Gallagher or Anderson, all three about the same age and contract. Don’t need to add a bad contract without removing one.
Freddy Andersen has been expendable for years. His multiple injuries and poor play have hindered the Canes since they signed him.
Freddy is done at least for any regularity in regular season play. Might catch lighting in a bottle in the playoffs once.
Ride Bussi like a rented mule . …Cautious on a longer term deal