Elliotte Friedman explains why Phillip Danault's exit from L.A. turned ugly

That automatically puts Ken Holland at the center of the discussion, because a general manager doesn't trade a veteran without a reason. And now, it's clear this wasn't just about the numbers.

In an episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman explained that the relationship between Danault and the organization had seriously deteriorated. He outright described the exit as "not pretty," with a lot of resentment on both sides. When things reach that point, even a team that wants to win no longer has the luxury of dragging it out.

From the player's side, Friedman says Danault was unhappy with how he was being used and with the Kings' system. On the ice, that also showed up in his offensive production. This season in Los Angeles, Danault scored no goals and recorded just five assists in 30 games, which is far below what's expected from an established center.

Despite that, he remained useful in his own zone, posting a +3 rating and contributing on the penalty kill. The problem is that, for the Kings, the drop in production became too significant to ignore, especially after an eight-goal campaign last season. When a situation becomes a distraction for the group, it often forces a decision.

Holland therefore made his move before the holiday trade freeze, as tensions were rising quickly between the two sides. It's the kind of divorce where everyone wants to turn the page as fast as possible, even if the return didn't win unanimous approval at the time.

Danault recently opened up about his struggles in Los Angeles, admitting he felt powerless and useless.

In the end, the Canadiens end up with an experienced center in exchange for a second-round pick in the next draft. And regardless of the noise surrounding it, that's a price that's getting people talking in Montreal.