Kraken normal supervisor Ron Francis has taken an enormous swing in Monday’s opening of NHL free company, signing right-handed shot defenseman Brandon Montour of the Florida Panthers to a seven-year, $50 million contract.
“Brandon is a confirmed winner, and we’re thrilled to have him becoming a member of our group,” Francis stated in a launch. “We’re wanting ahead to him making his Kraken debut in entrance of the perfect followers within the NHL.”
The deal had been reported earlier by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and brings the offensively gifted Montour, 30, to a Kraken staff that already has a high point-getter in defenseman Vince Dunn. The free company interval opens at 9 a.m. PT, at which level a flurry of signings by groups are anticipated to be introduced.
Montour had eight targets, 25 assists in 66 video games for the Panthers final season in successful the Stanley Cup. The prior season, he had 16 targets and 57 assists in rating as one of many league’s high defensive point-getters.
Heading into the free company interval, Montour was extensively considered as the highest non-forward accessible. A Kraken staff that completed with the NHL’s fourth worst targets per sport whole of two.61 had regarded to jumpstart the offense with acquisitions this summer season.
Whereas many do anticipate a further ahead or two to be added by way of free company or commerce, a Montour acquisition fills a few of the offensive want whereas restoring stability to the left-right synergy of the defensive pairings. A few of that had been misplaced when right-handed defender Justin Schultz was not retained and have become an unrestricted free agent.
Proper-handed shot defenders are a rarer NHL commodity than left-handed variations. Montour offers the Kraken three right-handed defensemen alongside Adam Larsson and Will Borgen to go together with three lefties in Dunn, Jamie Oleksiak and Ryker Evans.
A number of high free agent forwards instantly got here off the board Monday after winger Sam Reinhart resigned with the Panthers and heart Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning and winger Jonathan Marchessault of the Vegas Golden Knights inked offers with the Nashville Predators.
Vancouver centerman Elias Lindholm went to Boston on the identical day the Bruins additionally signed Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Going the opposite manner, the Canucks signed Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk.
Winnipeg Jets heart Sean Monahan then signed with Columbus shortly after, whereas Los Angeles Kings ahead Viktor Arvidsson inked a cope with Edmonton.
The Kraken had about $10 million in wage cap area so as to add gamers forward of this signing for $7.14 million yearly. Which means they’ll both goal cheaper forwards from right here or clear cap area by buying and selling away present gamers.
They’ve approached this summer season seeking to make main adjustments on and off the ice to be able to strengthen their presence inside a crowded Seattle sports activities market following a disappointing 81-point, non-playoff season. The adjustments started with the late-April dropping of ROOT Sports activities as their broadcast associate two years forward of schedule and the choice to provide their very own sport telecasts to be proven on Tegna-owned “free” channels and streamed by Amazon Prime.
It continued proper after with the firing of coach Dave Hakstol and his alternative with Coachella Valley AHL affiliate coach Dan Bylsma — a former Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh. Past that, the staff had signaled an intent to be very aggressive this summer season to be able to restore it to playoff contender standing a 12 months after advancing deep into the second spherical.
The NHL additionally introduced the house openers of all groups Monday, with the Kraken’s first 2024-25 common season sport at Local weather Pledge Enviornment set for Oct. 8 towards St. Louis.
This story might be up to date.