SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken and general manager Ron Francis wasted no time in free agency, coming to terms with a pair of significant free agents early Monday morning.
Brandon Montour, who just helped the Florida Panthers win a Stanley Cup, agreed to terms on a seven-year contract worth roughly $50 million total, the team announced.
The defenseman led all players at his position in goals during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs and would become the Kraken's second-highest paid player behind fellow defenseman Vince Dunn, per CapFriendly. An offense-minded defenseman is just what the Kraken need after finishing 29th out of 32 teams in goals last season.
Montour wasn't the only big get of the day for Seattle, as the Kraken came to terms with former Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson on a seven-year contract worth $43.75 million. Stephenson has won the Stanley Cup twice in his NHL career, once with Vegas in 2023 and with the Washington Capitals in 2018.
Stephenson, 30, saw his point total decline last season after a pair of 60-plus point campaigns in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Stephenson now becomes the highest-paid forward in Seattle.
After some quieter free agency periods in years past, the Kraken dove right in on Monday and invested $13 million annually within the first few hours.
With three full seasons now under its belt, the Kraken have moved out from the novelty of being the NHL's 32nd franchise. The team will have a new coach in Dan Bylsma, and expectations will be high after missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.
