Could Brandon Montour Be on His Way Out of Florida?

With other extensions upcoming, Brandon Montour could find himself out of South Florida this summer

The Florida Panthers are having the time of their lives this season. They currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 46-21-5 and 97 points. They trail the Boston Bruins by only two points with a game in hand and have a chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs Saturday against the New York Islanders.

This upcoming offseason is full of expiring contracts for the team. Most notably, Brandon Montour. The NHL is a business, so general manager Bill Zito has to make a tough decision. But with everything that transpired last month, Montour could be the odd man out and he may have to pack his bags.

Montour’s Time in Florida

Brandon Montour came to South Florida at the trade deadline of the shortened season of 2021 after spending nearly three seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. He was exchanged for just a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft.

In his first season, Montour made an immediate impact with a plus-8 rating and four points (two goals, two assists) through 12 regular season games. Since then, he’s been a staple for the Panther lineup. However, he may no longer be that staple by next season.

Gustav Forsling Got His Extension Done

A big factor that could be sending Montour out of Broward County is his teammate in defenseman Gustav Forsling. A few weeks ago, he signed a new contract for eight years at $5.75 million per season. If he hadn’t signed the deal, he would’ve been a free agent this offseason.