Montreal traded for Danault because it needed a center of his ilk. It had the speed and skill down pat, and Suzuki, in particular, is a matchup nightmare for opponents because he’s a 101-point player and also a finalist for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the League\u2019s top defensive forward.<\/p>\n
But Danault gives Suzuki relief. He takes important face-offs in the defensive zone. He kills penalties. He plays against top lines. And, clearly, he provides a little offensive pop too.<\/p>\n
“He fills in a chair, a role that we needed,” St. Louis said. “We have some great young players, tons of skill, and we need to have some veteran guys that can play a different role; killing penalties, good on draws, hard to play against defensively, and he’s brought that to us for sure.”<\/p>\n
Danault is indeed fitting in with the Canadiens, and his personality is flowing out of him.<\/p>\n
Anderson said he has become more vocal, that Danault spoke up in the dressing room during Game 7 against the Sabres. He said he also had a few words after the first period of Game 1 against Carolina, when Montreal was leading 4-1.<\/p>\n
“It’s experience,” center Jake Evans<\/a> said. “Off the ice, it’s experience. On the bench, he’s been through a lot of these situations. On the ice, I find him to be really just a calm player. He wins a lot of face-offs. When things are getting tough for us, you want a guy like that out there.”<\/p>\n Danault’s post-series victory pizza parties are back too.<\/p>\n The tradition started on June 24, 2021, when Montreal defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Artturi Lehkonen<\/a>‘s overtime goal to advance to the Cup Final.<\/p>\n It was still COVID times and media availabilities were conducted virtually. Danault brought a pizza into his press conference and was eating with Cole Caufield while answering questions.<\/p>\n Fast-forward to the Canadiens\u2019 media availability in the dressing room following their 2-1 overtime win in Game 7 in Tampa on May 3. There was Danault again, slices of pizza in his hand, delivering some to defenseman Mike Matheson<\/a>\u00a0while speaking with reporters.<\/p>\n He again brought a slice to Matheson after the Canadiens won Game 7 in Buffalo on May 18 to advance to the conference final.<\/p>\n