Panthers GM Barry Zito did not have a definitive timetable for when Montour is expected to make his season debut but said it's safe to assume he'll be back between "November to January." Zito added that he believes Montour will be back before Aaron Ekblad, who will also miss the start of the season. Expect more detailed updates to come out during training camp.
Both Montour and Aaron Ekblad underwent offseason shoulder surgery, and GM Bill Zito said they're "on time" and are expected to be back in "a month or two." This puts both defensemen on pace to be ready close to the start of the regular season. The Panthers play just eight games in October, so even if Montour misses the start of the season, he may not miss too many games.
Meyers had four goals, 33 SOG, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 39 games with Colorado in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $775,000 contract extension. The 24-year-old centre joined the Avalanche as an undrafted free-agent from the University of Minnesota (NCAA) and has five goals, 41 SOG, six PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 44 career NHL games.
Dunn had a breakout season in 2022-23 with Seattle as he had 14 goals, 50 assists, 149 SOG, 55 PIMs and a +28 plus/minus through 81 games and has signed a four-year, $29.4 million contract extension ($7,325,000 AAV). The 26-year-old came over to Seattle as part of the 2021 NHL expansion draft from St. Louis and already has 53 goals, 201 points and 769 SOG through 421 NHL games.
Sale was the Kraken's 2023 first-round pick (20th overall) and has now signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Seattle. The 18-year-old right-winger is coming off a seven goal, 14 point season across 43 games with HC Kometa Brno (Czechia) and is expected to join the Barrie Colts (OHL) for the 2023-24 season.
Fleury only appeared in 12 NHL games last season and 21 over his first two seasons with the Kraken. Fleury, who has two points (1G / 1A) in 62 career NHL appearances, will likely serve as the Kraken's No.7 defenseman again in 2024.
Borgan has three goals, 17 assists, 76 SOG, 47 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 82 games played with Seattle in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $5.4 million extension ($2,700,000 AAV) with Seattle. The 26-year-old defensemen broke out in 2022-23 after playing only 50 NHL games prior to the start of the season.
Robertson had 36 goals, 54 assists, 34 PIMs and a +21 plus/minus through 68 games with Peterborough (OHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Seattle. The 20-year-old was the Kraken's 2022 fourth-round pick (123rd overall) and is expected to return to the OHL for his fourth season in Peterborough in 2023-24.
Hayden had two goals, seven PIMs, and a +2 plus/minus through seven games with Seattle in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 AAV. The 28-year-old centre has played for five NHL teams across his seven year career, picking up 17 goals, 37 points to go along with 290 PIMS in 247 games played.
Lajoie appeared in three games for Carolina in 2022-23 but failed to pick up a point while also posting 45 points (11G/34A) in 63 games with Chicago (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 with Toronto. The 25-year-old defenseman has 15 points (7G/8A) and a -23 plus/minus through 70 career NHL games played.
Brouillard had six goals, 33 assists, 120 PIMs and a -27 plus/minus with San Diego (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut after being signed as a free agent from McGill University (USports) in 2020-21.
Sprong had 21 goals, 25 assists, 147 SOG, 14 PIMs and a +13 plus/minus through 66 games in a bottom-six role with Seattle in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $2.0 million with Detroit. The 26-year-old right-winger was a second-round draft pick in 2015 (46th overall) and has scored 67 goals and 116 points in 268 career NHL games.
Daccord was 2-1-1 with a 3.14 GAA and .900 SV% in 2022-23 with the Kraken and has signed a two-year, $2.4 million contract extension ($1.2 million AAV). The 26-year-old goaltender was Ottawa's 7th round draft pick in 2015 (199th overall) and has appeared in 19 NHL games over four season, posting a 3-9-2 record, 884 SV% and 3.64 GAA.
Olofsson failed to pick up a point across three games with Seattle in 2022-23 but has six SOG and a +1 plus/minus and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV at the NHL level. The 28-year-old defenseman has 11 assists through 62 career games played for three NHL teams in five seasons.
Nyman was drafted in the second round (No.49 overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old winger had 10 goals and four assists (14 points) in 29 games with Ilves Tampere (Liiga) in 2023. He represented Finland at the 2023 World Juniors, scoring two goals with one assist in five games.
Stezka was originally a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2015 but never signed. He inked a one-year deal with Seattle after going 25-14-0 with a 2.14 GAA and .924 SV% in 39 games with Vitkovice HC of the Czech Extraliga.
The Kraken selected Firkus in the second round (No.35 overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old winger led the Moose Jaw Warriors in points (40G / 48A / 88 Pts) during the regular season and playoffs (10G / 11A / 21 Pts) during the 2023 season.
Stephenson was absent at the Golden Knights' morning skate and play after being a game-time decision ahead of Game 3 vs. Dallas due to an illness. If the 29-year-old is forced to miss any time, it will be a massive loss for Vegas as he has a goal and three points across the first two games of the Western Conference Finals and is third on the team in playoff scoring with seven goals, 13 points, 19 SOG, and 18 PIMs
