Phillip Danault could have played it safe.
He had established himself as a premier defensive center, stopping opponents' top scorers well enough to finish in the top seven in voting for the NHL's best defensive forward for three straight seasons and play a key role in the Montreal Canadiens' surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. He was dominant in the defensive zone, good at blocking passes. He wasn't flashy or a big scorer, but he was valuable in a narrowly defined role.
He didn't accept those limitations.
