The Seattle Kraken made significant moves at the opening of NHL free agency, signing defenseman Brandon Montour from the Florida Panthers to a seven-year, $49.98 million contract. General Manager Ron Francis expressed enthusiasm about adding Montour, describing him as a “proven winner” and looking forward to his debut with the team.
Shortly after, the Kraken signed centerman Chandler Stephenson from the Vegas Golden Knights to another seven-year deal worth $43.75 million. These two signings represent a substantial commitment from the Kraken, totaling nearly $94 million over seven years for the pair of 30-year-old free agents.
Montour, an offensively gifted right-handed defenseman, is coming off a strong season with the Panthers. In 66 games, he recorded eight goals and 25 assists, plus 11 playoff points, en route to winning the Stanley Cup. He led the Panthers in ice time, averaging 23:37 per game. The addition of Montour addresses the Kraken’s need for offensive production, as they finished with the NHL’s fourth-worst goals-per-game average last season.
The signings of Montour and Stephenson have significant implications for the Kraken’s salary cap situation. With the pair’s annual cap hit of $13.39 million, the team may need to make additional moves to clear cap space. This could involve trading current players, with defenseman Adam Larsson being a possible candidate.
These acquisitions come amidst a flurry of free agent signings across the NHL, including notable moves such as Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault joining the Nashville Predators and Jake Guentzel signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Kraken’s aggressive approach to free agency aligns with their broader strategy to strengthen their presence in the competitive Seattle sports market following a disappointing 81-point season. This offseason has already seen significant changes, including a new broadcast partnership and the hiring of Dan Bylsma as head coach.
The team had about $10 million in salary cap space before the Montour signing, which carries an annual cap hit of $7.14 million. Adding Stephenson at $6.25 million annually means the Kraken might need to clear more cap space through trades.
The Kraken have been linked to trade talks with the Columbus Blue Jackets regarding winger Patrik Laine, who has two years left on his $8.7 million annual contract. The Kraken would need to trade someone from their current roster to accommodate such a move.
There had been speculation that the Kraken would move Brandon Tanev’s contract to Ottawa to entice his brother, Chris Tanev, but this possibility ended when Chris signed with Toronto.
