The Buffalo Sabres’ sell-off continued Saturday with the team informing defenceman Brandon Montour he has been traded to the Florida Panthers for a 2021 third-round draft pick.
“Brandon is a capable and talented right-shot defenceman who will have an immediate impact on our club,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a statement. “His two-way acumen and ability to play important minutes make him an exciting addition to the Panthers.”
It’s the latest and not likely last move by the rebuilding Sabres as they sit last in the overall standings and are all but mathematically guaranteed to match the NHL playoff drought record of 10 seasons.
Montour, who has five goals — including four in his last seven games — and 14 points in 38 outings this season, is a pending unrestricted free agent completing a one-year contract worth $3.85 million.
Brandon Montour via text message says he’s pumped about being traded to Florida. <br>“Fresh start. Super excited to finish off strong!”<a href=”https://twitter.com/TSNHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@TSNHockey</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/TheAthletic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@TheAthletic</a>
—@PierreVLeBrun
The 26-11-4 Panthers add a two-way defenceman as they battle for top spot in the Central Division standings. Florida fell from first place to a tie with Tampa Bay for second — one point behind the Panthers — after back-to-back losses to Carolina this week.
Connolly deal opened up cap space
The Panthers opened up salary cap space on Thursday in a trade that sent forward Brett Connolly and defenceman Riley Stillman to Chicago for forward Lucas Wallmark and defenceman Lucas Carlsson.
When the Sabres acquired Montour they paid a first round pick and Guhle who was a second round pick. They get a third back, but he also leaves being a rental for Florida.
—@pham1717
Montour, who turns 27 on Sunday, is in his fifth NHL season and has been with Buffalo since the Sabres acquired him from Anaheim on Feb. 24, 2019.
Overall, the 2014 second-round draft pick has 29 goals and 76 assists for 105 points in 281 NHL regular-season games.
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Avalanche add goalie Dubnyk
The NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk on Saturday, sending defenceman Greg Pateryn and a 2021 fifth-round draft pick to San Jose.
Dubnyk, 34, had a 3-9-2 record, 3.18 goals-against average and .898 save percentage with the Sharks this season. He has appeared in 537 regular-season games over a 12-year career with Edmonton, Nashville, Arizona, Minnesota and San Jose.
“Devan brought the element of consummate professionalism and class to our dressing room, in what has been an extremely unique and challenging season,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement.
“He fit seamlessly within our group and helped mentor many of our younger players.”
Pateryn, a fifth-round selection by Toronto in 2008, has 41 points in 278 NHL games with Montreal, Dallas, Minnesota and Colorado.
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