It’s not a move that has been confirmed, but David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period is reporting that defenseman Brandon Montour is headed to the Florida Panthers as part of a trade with the Buffalo Sabres. Montour is a player many had on their trade bait boards, while the Panthers are a team that had some cap space and a need for a defenseman thanks to the injury to Aaron Ekblad.
Elliotte Friedman is also reporting that Montour has been dealt.
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Montour has not posted great numbers in the past three seasons. While it was expected he’d be more of a factor coming over from Anaheim, his production has been decent but his underlying numbers have been low at both ends since before the Sabres traded for him. That said, he is a solid depth defenceman who can consistently shoulder over 20 minutes of ice time.
He scored two goals and eight assists for 10 points through 32 games, adding 22 minutes in penalties. Over his five-year NHL career, Montour has played for both the Ducks and Sabres, and in that time, he has 26 goals and 75 assists for 101 career points in 275 career games. He was originally drafted in the second round, 55th overall of the 2014 NHL draft.
He’s making $3.85 million on a contract that expires this season. He’ll be a pending UFA in the summer.
What Does This Mean For The Panthers?
They could still make other moves before Monday’s deadline, but this deal likely removes them from the conversation when it comes to David Savard. Florida probably won’t add another defenseman prior to the deadline.
And, unless Montour knocks it out of the park, it seems unlikely that he’ll be extended by the Panthers beyond this season.
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