The Buffalo Sabres announced they’ve reached an agreement on a one-year contract worth $3.85 million for defenseman Brandon Montour. The two sides got this in before the arbitration deadline this evening.
Montour had an underperforming season this past year not just in terms of production, but his on-ice impacts as well. There was some speculation that’ll he’d be on the move this offseason and while this contract doesn’t prohibit that, we usually don’t see sign and trades in the NHL.
He’ll become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next, so he could be a piece the Sabres look to move at the trade deadline as a rental. They may be getting a motivated player heading into free agency that could put up a good performance.
The other remaining restricted free agents, Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson, and Linus Ullmark all elected for arbitration. A deal can still be reached before the arbitration hearing. Some reports were today that the hearings would begin the week of 10/19.