Nothing about Danault’s first stint with Montreal in 2015-16 suggested he could be anything more than a useful bottom-six forward that could win faceoffs.That’s where he began last season before replacing top-line forward Alex Galchenyuk, who suffered a knee injury early in December. Danault meshed well with Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov, netting 40 points in a full 82-game season. But we're not talking about a high-end offensive talent, as Danault ranked 10th among Montreal forwards with 37 seconds of power-play ice time per game. Claude Julien will be leading the team during his first training camp as Montreal’s head coach, so there’s uncertainty for many players beyond the team’s elite stars. If Julien opts to use Alex Galchenyuk at wing, Danault could revive his role on the top line and be a useful fantasy piece by way of osmosis, skating with Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher.

Danault is targeted for his first full season at Rockford of the AHL. He spent all of last season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but the Hawks have some hope for him as he turns 21 this February. He ranked fourth in the QMJHL in assists with 62 last season, but will need substantial time in the AHL to see if his game can translate to the pros.