The Guy You Aren't Talking About

 



Philip Danault, the man no one is talking about, probably should never have to pay for dinner, at least until the end of his career.  His linemates owe him; the players on the other lines owe him; the defenders owe him; and I would say that Quicky owes him, but Quicky doesn't owe anyone.  This guy, the man the sports media won't mention, makes everything on a hockey team work better.

He isn't flashy.  He isn't going to be the focus on the various shows of the Toronto Hockey League Network.  He may never play in the all star game, but he is a hockey coach's dream.  He has historically put up half a point a game numbers and has a career plus/minus of 56.  with the Kings, he is surpassing those numbers.  Having a plus minus of twelve isn't sexy to the media.  Having nineteen points isn't sexy to fantasy players.  However, in looking at these two stats together, the hockey geek in me gets a little excited.  Other teams have only scored a handful of times in thirty five games while he is on the ice.  This is where the magic lies.

considering that Danault is on the second line, and spendsmost of his time playing against top six forwards, his performance is freakish.  Night after night, shift after shift, he harangs and frustrates opponents.  he doesn't do this like a Tkachuck or Tikkanen with cheapshots or intent to injur opponents.  He simply makes what they want to do, move the puck up the ice and score, next to impossible.  Top six forwards feed on scoring.  They need to hold the puck, move the puck, create chances, and score.  They's why they play, and why they get paid.  Danault upends all of that.  He gets in the head of the other team which affects the entire game.

Danault has help of course, but he sets the tone and is the clear leader on his line.  He and his linemates are in every passing lane.  They use speed, positioning, angles, strength, and tenacity to disrupt everything the other team is trying to do.  They get sticks on pucks, slow the other team down, and disrupt their timing and flow.   

One might eroneously surmise that he is defensive specialist.  However, while he is wreaking havoc on the other team's offense, he and his linemates (who play a crucial role in all of this) counter attack.  They jump on deflected or bouncing pucks and immediately put pressure on the opposition.  Now the other team is on thier heels.  Once in the offensive zone, they cycle down low, wearing out the other team both mentally and physically.  No top six player wants to spend their shift chasing a cycle in their own end.  

To the other team's dismay, Danault and company don't keep the puck on the outside.  They are adept at finding a way to get the puck and themselves to the tough dirty area in front of the net.  The constant pressure leads to goals.  Not pretty, tick tack toe goals, but grinding goals that come from effort and timing.  Goal tenders and defenders are under constant pressure and stress.  

You may not be talking about Danault with your friends.  It might be hard to find a Danault jersey on the back of a fan, but I can gurantee you that his team mates are fans.  The guys that sign his checks are fans.  His coach is a fan.  I am a fan.  Don't buy it yet?  Bergevin didn't and it cost him his job in Montreal.  



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