Kraken's Montour Aims to Mirror Panthers' Cup Success

New Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour described his playstyle with two intriguing words: «Enjoyment, love.»

«When it's an intense environment and games are stressful, keeping it loose and enjoying each game as it lies,» Montour explained.

Montour, a recent free agent who played in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals with the Florida Panthers, winning the Cup last month over Edmonton, signed a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken. The team had been in discussions with Montour's agents during the season.

«I take pride in my offense. Eating a lot of minutes, penalty kill, power play,» said Montour, who is ready to embrace a leadership role in the dressing room and the Seattle community. «A lot of the players have reached out with phone calls and texts. I'm excited to meet everyone.»

Defenseman Brings Risks, Bigger Rewards

NHL Network's Tony Granato observed, «I watched him a few years ago and thought, �He's (merely) a pretty good player,'» noting Montour's breakout season a couple of years ago. «He's got a swagger to him; when he gets the puck, he's taking charge. Got a chance to have a big impact.»

However, NHL Network's E.J. Hradek noted Montour's style can lead to mistakes. «Montour is the kind of player that has risk-reward. He's going to make some mistakes along the way. We saw that happen in the Stanley Cup Final; a pass he made was deflected and ended up in a shorthanded goal. That's part of the package.»

Hradek emphasized that Montour's rewards far outweigh his risks. «He's a great skater. You've got to focus on the fact he's going to help you get out of the zone multiple times in a game. He's going to jump in on plays, help you attack more offensively.»

Montour Chooses Seattle

In deciding among what he called «a ton of options» among free-agent suitors, Montour considered whether to join a rebuilding team or one ready to win now. He chose the Kraken because «the love was there.»

Besides the $50 million contract, Montour was drawn to the chance to bring a Stanley Cup to Seattle for the first time in over a century. «How much that meant, not just to (Panthers) fans, but everyone who's been around that organization. To do that again, that's the goal. My family and I thought that would be pretty cool to do.»

Six Nations, One Stanley Cup

Montour has one more happy duty as a member of the Panthers: his «Day with the Cup» on July 24. He plans to take it home to the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario. Montour, of Mohawk descent, was born in the region located above Lake Erie, about 65 miles southwest of Toronto, and 90 miles west of Buffalo.

«We are very proud of Brandon and his accomplishments,» Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill said. Aunt Jaime Montour added, «Brandon, you have no idea the impact for First Nations people. No clue how big it is for them. To inspire not just this community, but other communities in Canada. It's giving hope.»

The Six Nations of the Grand River is the only First Nation community that includes all six Haudenosaunee nations (Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora) and is the most populous First Nation in Canada.