"I'm 100%, it's going very well," affirmed the 25-year-old, who recorded 25 points (8G, 17A) in 52 games last season. "Everything is great, I'm training, I'm skating. It's all good."
Danault was addressing a gathering of reporters on Thursday on the occasion of the second annual Phillip Danault Golf Classic to raise funds for the community he grew up in. The event attracted fellow Quebec natives Jonathan Drouin, Jonathan Huberdeau, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Mark Barberio.
This year, the main beneficiaries of the charitable endeavour are the Centre de Stimulation l'Envol and the Fondation Jasmin Roy, the latter of which tackles bullying in schools. Danault and his fiancée, Marie-Pierre, may not have kids of their own just yet - they'll be getting hitched later in July - but it's a cause that still struck a chord with the couple.
"[Bullying] is something you don't want your kids to have to experience. Even if I don't have kids, it's not something you want to hear. It's unnerving," explained Danault, who said the second edition of his golf event pulled in around $45,000 and counting. "It really hit close to home for Marie and me. That's why we decided to get involved with them."
Victoriaville may be a few hours' drive from Montreal, but Danault feels equally at home in the big city, and has gone on record as saying how much he loves being a Hab and would do it for life, if he could.
"I love Montreal. I feed off the pressure, I love it. Every time I put my skates on the Bell Centre ice, it's really something, an incredible feeling. With my injury this year, it made me realize how lucky I was to play for the Montreal Canadiens," praised Danault, who was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in February 2016. "I'm very happy to be in Montreal."
That'll be music to the ears of Max Domi, who was recently traded to the Habs from the Arizona Coyotes. Both Danault and Drouin were asked about their new teammate when they held court on the links. The pair agreed that Domi is a perfect fit for Montreal and the Canadiens alike.
"He's really passionate about hockey, he's determined. Even with his size - he's not very big, but he plays big. I think his biggest asset is the way he sees the game," praised Drouin, who won gold with Domi at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial. "His vision for the game, he's able to make great plays at the right moments. I think coming to Montreal is really going to help him. He likes pressure. [...] It's the perfect city for that."
No. 24 couldn't agree more.
"He's going to fit in very well with the Montreal Canadiens of today. [...] He brings a lot of energy and passion, it's incredible. He has really good hands, too. I think he has his dad's passion, but with better hands," Danault concluded with a laugh.
