This former Sabre has a real shot of hitting free agency this summer.
The Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers starts tonight. Both clubs are full of stars, and this has all the makings of being an incredible series.
However, with the offseason right around the corner, some chatter has been surrounding the future of one of the Panthers' top stars: former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour.
In a recent article for Sportsnet, Luke Fox noted that Montour's final days as a Panther could be here. Here's what the insider said on the matter:
"Interesting that [Gustav] Forsling leaped ahead of Montour this season on Zito's signing priority list. Perhaps because Montour began the season injured. More likely because his current cap hit of $3.5 million should double soon, and we may be watching his final shifts for Florida."
There is no question that Montour will be getting a big raise this offseason. The right-shot defenseman blossomed into a true star with the Panthers over the last few seasons. In addition, he is one of the top defenders who can hit the market, so he would get a huge payday if he hits the market.
The Panthers also have a bigger priority to focus on first in fellow former Sabre Sam Reinhart. In addition, they have an array of other unrestricted free agents they will either need to re-sign or replace in their lineup. Among the most notable are Vladimir Tarasenko, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Ryan Lomberg, and Dmitry Kulikov. Anton Lundell, an RFA, is also due for a raise.
Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see if the Panthers can find a way to get Montour signed before July 1. However, given Fox's update, it seems pretty possible that Montour will become a free agent.
