Reliable Eight-Year Defenseman Signs with the Kraken
Over his past three seasons with the Panthers, eight-year veteran defenseman Brandon Montour, has seen a rise in offensive productivity, scoring 35 goals and contributing critical defensive play while the Panthers are on the penalty kill. Only twice in his career did Montour play 60 or more games in a single season until coming to the Panthers via trade in 2021. Prior to that, he battled to acquire consistent playing time each season. Now, the Panthers' Stanley Cup victory last season was greatly influenced by Montour's improved play. Entering free agency this summer, Montour was a valuable defensive player whom clubs were trying to sign. According to CBS Sports, the Seattle Kraken have signed Montour to a seven-year deal, worth $50 million.
The Anaheim Ducks selected Montour with the 55th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. In his two seasons in the USHL before joining the NHL, Montour scored 83 points, had 63 assists, and put up 20 goals. After making his NHL debut with the Ducks during the 2016–17 campaign, Montour became known as a dependable and skillful offensive defenseman. When able to stay on the ice and avoid injury, his ability to join the rush, make accurate passes, and assist on the power play has made him a useful asset. After playing with the Ducks for a few seasons, Montour was sent to the Buffalo Sabres, where he kept up his impressive scoring and defensive development.
In his most recent tenure with the Panthers, Montour further cemented his standing as a top-four defenseman who can contribute significantly to games in all circumstances. Throughout his career, he has relied heavily on his great skating, vision, and rapid transition from defense to offensive. Montour can play a variety of positions, including providing depth on the blue line or on the top pair, because of his versatility. As the Kraken prepare for next season and want to make a long playoff run, the Kraken will have a formidable defender in Montour on their roster that they can deploy in different situations.
