Phillip Danault: an investment that’s paying off

The Moncton Wildcats paid a high price to acquire Phillip Danault. It’s an investment that’s already paying off.
 
Moncton finished January on an eight-game winning streak and its best run this season began when Danault joined the club on Jan. 8, the final day of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League trade period. The 19-year-old centre plays on the first line with Dmitrij Jaskin and Ivan Barbashev, a trio that scored 22 goals in their first eight games together.
 
Phillip has been very good since the day he arrived here,” said Wildcats head coach and director of hockey operations Danny Flynn. “He’s an outstanding young man, a real upbeat person who’s a natural leader. He’s fit well into our team and has quickly gained the respect of everybody both for his leadership and his play.
 
I hoped that he and Jaskin and Barbashev would fit together on a line and so far so good. It makes us a tougher team for opponents to prepare for because we now have more balanced scoring.”
 
Moncton was second in the Maritime Division and fifth overall in the league at 32-16-1-0 entering February.
 
Moncton acquired Danault from the Victoriaville Tigres in a high-profile trade. The Wildcats gave up forward Gabriel Gagne along with a first-round pick in the 2014 QMJHL draft, a first-round pick in the 2014 Canadian Hockey League import draft, and first- and second-round picks in the 2015 QMJHL draft.
 
Gagne, a second-round pick in the 2012 QMJHL draft, is a promising 16-year-old who’s having a stellar season in the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League.
 
Danault is a fourth-year veteran who was selected in the first round, ninth overall, in the 2009 QMJHL draft. He has 59 points, including 17 goals, in 37 games and he’s on pace to surpass his career high of 71 points that he had last season.
 
Victoriaville’s former captain was claimed in the first round, 26th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 National Hockey League draft. He was the biggest name to change teams dring the QMJHL trade period and he’s lived up to all expectations so far with 15 points, including three goals, in his first eight games with Moncton.
 
Danault has already signed a contract with Chicago and he gained a taste of the pros after Victoriaville was eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs last season. He had two points in seven games with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.
 
Danault also has international experience on his resume. He played for Team Quebec at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Championship and suited up for Team Canada at both the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, an under-18 event, and the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship.
 
Any time you acquire a player who has world junior experience, pro experience and was a captain in this league for two seasons, you know you’re getting someone that brings leadership,” said Flynn. Phillip is a very talented player, but he also backs it up with strong work ethic and unselfish play. He’s been an excellent addition to our team.”
 
Phillip is one of the top centres in the league and he brings a lot of leadership,” added Wildcats defenceman Jonathan Narbonne. He’s a good player both offensively and defensively. I think he’s teamed up with Jaskin and Barbashev to give us one of the best lines in the league.”
 
Danault played three and a half seasons for Victoriaville and it was a special thrill for him to wear the Tigres jersey. He was a big Tigres’ fan growing up and he regularly attended games with his father, who was the club’s public address announcer.
 
I was lucky to live my dream by playing for Victoriaville,” he said. I have a lot of respect for the Tigres organization so it was something special to play for them.  It was a little emotional at first when I got traded, but I’m happy to be in Moncton.
 
I always said that if I’m going to be traded Moncton is my first choice. I knew the Wildcats are a good organization and I liked their style of play. I looked at them as a very physical team that’s tough to play against. I looked at them as a team that’s built for the playoffs with their physical style of play and the systems they use.”
 
Danault has made a smooth adjustment to Moncton.
 
I have two very good linemates in Jaskin and Barbashev and we find each other well on the ice,” he said. They’re intelligent players who make nice plays and it’s fun to play with them. There’s good chemistry between us.
 
I would say my strengths are my intensity and my defensive play. I can also bring something offensively. I try to be an all-around player. I try to bring emotion and leadership to the team.”
 
The line of Danault, Jaskin and Barbashev scored four goals to help Moncton post a 6-2 win over the Quebec Remparts.
 
I understand now why they needed to go after Danault in the trade period,” said Quebec head coach Patrick Roy. Danault, Jaskin and Barbashev are the No. 1 line for the Wildcats and the line that could bring their team to the next level.
 
People were looking at their depth and asking `Why do they need Danault?’ They definitely needed to acquire him if they wanted to compete with Halifax. He’s one of the best players in the league and he definitely makes them a better team.”