The Florida Panthers have acquired Buffalo Sabers defender Brandon Montour for a selection in the third round of 2021, the teams announced on Saturday.
Montour, 26, is an offensive right-handed defender who could help fill a gap with Aaron Ekblad for 12 weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken leg. Ekblad, 25, had a season-long Norris for the Panthers at the time of his injury in late March, with 11 goals and 11 assists in 35 games.
“Brandon is a capable and talented defender who will have an immediate impact on our club,” said Bill Zito, Panthers general manager. “His two-way agility and ability to play important minutes make him an interesting addition to the Panthers.”
The Panthers are 26-11-4, tied with Lightning, the defending Stanley Cup champion. Florida ranks third in the Central Division behind Carolina Hurricanes (who has 57 points and two games in hand) and Tampa Bay (56 points, one game in hand).
Montour is in the final year of a contract that pays him $ 3.85 million annually. It was acquired by Sabers at the 2019 trading deadline from Anaheim Ducks. Montour has five goals and nine assists in 38 games this season for Buffalo. His most productive NHL season was in 2017-18, with 32 points in 80 games for Anaheim.
Montour is the third Saber traded before the NHL trading deadline on Monday. Goalkeeper Jonas Johansson was sent to Colorado, while center Eric Staal was transferred to Montreal. Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams can’t be done yet. Winger Taylor Hall, who signed a one-year, $ 8 million contract with Sabers out of last season, is expected to be moved as well.
Sabers now has nine draft picks in 2021, including two in the third round.
The sabers were one of the biggest disappointments for the league this season. After enduring a series without 18 victories, the longest in the era of the salary cap, and coach Ralph Krueger who fired in March, Buffalo is ready to miss the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season. It’s the NHL’s longest post-season drought.