Phillip Danault and the search for offensive skill

Earlier this week, we took a look at how Phillip Danault and Max Pacioretty form an elite pair which drew some criticism because Danault just doesn’t look like a number one centre.

A lot of how we see the game comes from our eyes, and Danault reminds a lot of people of a player who simply doesn’t have the skill to be a legitimate top-six NHL centre.

Danault was drafted 26th overall in 2011, and like many players drafted in the second half of the first-round, offence was a question.

In the QMJHL, he put up just over a point per game, with 74 goals and 177 assists (251 points) in 244 games. You look at the discrepancy between goals and assists and the first instinct (it was mine) is to see who…