Phillip Danault Rejects Contract Extension from Montreal

According to multiple reports the Montreal Canadiens tried very hard to sign center Phillip Danault to a contract extension all offseason, including an offer for 6-years at $30 million.

The Montreal Canadiens have reportedly had a six-year, $30M ($5M AAV) contract extension offer REJECTED by pending free agent Phillip Danault’s camp back in September, according to @mathiasbrunet of La Presse. #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/lCrFUsOR1w

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) January 22, 2021

Hard to fathom someone making $3 million per season would turn down $5 million considering his career high is 53 points a couple of seasons ago. 

This season Danault has moved off of the top-two lines and is sitting with three points in five games so far. The Canadiens sent Max Domi packing in the offseason which you would think would have opened up some more ice-time for Danault, but with the emergence of Nick Suzuki as the team's #1 center, Danault is playing second or even third fiddle.

There's certainly a chance an extension gets done at some point this season but there's also a chance the team looks to move Danault and upgrade as the Canadiens have an abundance of draft picks and will be going on all-in at the deadline.

Keep an eye on Montreal, Marc Bergevin has been working hard on several trades.

Photo credit: David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire