An unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2005, Dandenault probably took a so-called hometown discount to sign with the Canadiens, never before having had the chance to play in front of family and friends.
"To get to wear the jersey, play at the Bell Centre, was just awesome," he said. "To me, it's the best place to win, for sure. The loudness you can get in Montreal. And the craziness too, when you're not winning. It pushed me to stay motivated. Everybody knows their hockey. You can't take a shift off and that helped me. That can deter some players, you see some free agents who don't want to deal with all that stuff. But I truly enjoyed it. I just wish we could have won a Stanley Cup in Montreal."
Past a decade into retirement, Dandenault still enjoys the camaraderie of fellow players, those bonds unbreakable, new friendships forged as younger players join in. He is deeply involved in alumni activities, playing games and working Bell Center corporate suites during the season and making many off-ice appearances during the summer.
"You miss the game when you retire, but you really miss the dressing room," he said. "We still have fans who come out to cheer us. We put on a show, but you'll get some younger guys on the other team who can play and we still have to turn it on.
"We're obviously all way heavier than we used to be," he joked, which isn't true when you look at Carbonneau, Brisebois and especially Petrov. "But it's still about the smarts of the game, getting open, being with the guys, sharing the stories from different generations. That's the most fun."