Stu Cowan: Habs’ Phillip Danault trying not to think about contract

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If it was, indeed, someone from the Canadiens who leaked the news Phillip Danault turned down a six-year, US$30-million contract offer, it certainly hasn’t helped the player or the team’s performance.

Mathias Brunet of La Presse reported in January that Danault had turned down the offer made by the Canadiens last September. Brunet reported the offer to Danault came after defenceman Jeff Petry had signed a four-year, US$25-million contract extension and before forward Brendan Gallagher signed a six-year, US$39-million extension.

Marc Bergevin refuses to talk about contract negotiations and one of the things the Canadiens GM normally does best is make sure nothing leaks from his office, whether it’s about contracts or possible trade talks. Bergevin was upset recently when Victor Mete’s agent, Darren Ferris, went public with a trade request for the defenceman.

It would make absolutely no sense for Danault’s agent, Don Meehan, to leak information about the veteran centre turning down a $5-million-a-year offer, so you have to think it came from the Canadiens. There has been no denial from anyone saying the report was wrong and Danault has said he doesn’t want to talk about his contract situation.

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If the goal of the leak was to get Canadiens fans on the side of the team instead of the player in the contract negotiations it certainly worked, judging by comments on social media and sports talk radio — especially since Danault has yet to score a goal this season and has only six assists in 15 games.

Danault is a proud person and has been a good soldier for the Canadiens, so the leak about his contract talks must have hurt him. I wouldn’t be shocked if money isn’t even the biggest issue for him and his concern is more about what his future role will be with the Canadiens, who have three young centres in Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jake Evans.

“At the beginning (of the season) everything changed as soon as I came here … contract-wise, everything,” Danault said earlier this month. “So all the stuff that was going around it was definitely an adaptation on my game and mentally. Those things, too, I don’t want the team to get affected, so that’s why I don’t talk about it.”

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Nobody knows more than Danault that he has to perform better in the final season of his three-year, US$9.25-million contract if he wants to get a significant raise and long-term security from the Canadiens or any other team with the ability to become an unrestricted free agent.

“First five, six games, it was hard mentally, for sure,” the 27-year-old said after practice Friday in Brossard. “A little adaptation on the ice, off-ice, everything. Since then, I think it’s been good. Obviously, I didn’t score, but I’m trying my best and doing all the details that I’m good at defensively and bring some offence as well. Eventually, it will come up. As long as we get chances, like we did last game. So we’re going in the right way.”

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Danault picked up an assist in the Canadiens’ 2-1 win last Saturday in Toronto while playing a key role in limiting Maple Leafs star centre Auston Matthews to one assist. Matthews leads the NHL with 16 goals in 17 games, but has failed to score in any of his first three games against the Canadiens. Edmonton Oilers star centre Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL in points with 9-23-32 totals, hasn’t scored a goal and has only two assists in three games against the Canadiens.

There’s a reason why Danault finished sixth last season in voting for the Selke Trophy. He was one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL — and he still is.

The Leafs and Canadiens meet again Saturday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., CBC, SN, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). Danault and his linemates, Tyler Toffoli and Brendan Gallagher, will be matched up against the Leafs’ No. 1 line of Matthews with Joe Thornton and Mitch Marner.

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“We’ve been playing against top lines every night,” Danault said when asked about the Leafs’ top line. “McDavid, (Leon) Draisaitl, all these guys. It’s not much of a different challenge. They’re really good. Obviously, they get one chance, they score. So we got to eliminate their chances and we got to be in their face as well. Aggressive in our zone, not be too passive. We got to build on what we did the last two periods against Toronto. We were in their face and we were playing our game.”

As for Danault’s personal game, he said he’s trying not to think about having no goals.

“But it’s easy to say,” he added. “My game is not all points, really. I got to start with those details defensively. That brings my offence and, obviously, be hungry around the net and in those corners. Win my battles. So that’s where my game starts from.

“We’ve been getting some chances and eventually it will go in.”

scowan@postmedia.com

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