Sugar Skull Gifts

The Seattle Kraken have signed free agent defenseman Brandon Montour to a seven-year contract carrying an average annual value of $7.14 million.

Montour, who helped lead the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup last week, is a coveted right-shot defender and was one of the top blueliners available when NHL free agency began at noon Monday. The 30-year-old spent the past 3½ seasons in Florida after being traded to the Panthers from Buffalo in 2021.

Montour finished playing out his team-friendly deal (at $3.5 million per season), but given the Panthers' success in recent years -- including the championship this season -- and Montour's presence as a top-pairing defenseman, he seemed on track to hit the open market. That became even more clear when Florida invested in a seven-year, $69 million contract for Sam Reinhart on Monday morning.

Now Montour is instead off to join the Kraken's core in a similar top slot alongside the likes of Vince Dunn and Justin Schultz. Montour carried more than 23 minutes per game last season and was an important part of the Panthers' power play.

This opportunity to sign a large-dollar, long-term deal was a long time coming for Montour. He emerged as a star on Florida's back end during its run to the Cup Final in 2023. Though he was slowed by injuries from that effort to the start this past season, Montour still finished with eight goals and 33 points in 66 games.

The patented offensive defenseman thrived in coach Paul Maurice's system and will try to translate that growth to a new role in the Pacific Northwest.

Montour was not the only Stanley Cup champion the Kraken added Monday. that The team also signed Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year deal worth $6.25 million annually.

Getting top-six forward help was a priority for the Kraken. Stephenson, who won the Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023, gives them a two-way center who can anchor a line while being trusted to play in every scenario.

One of the challenges the Kraken faced in 2023-24 was the ability to consistently score goals. They went from having the NHL's second-best shooting percentage when they made the playoffs in 2022-23 to having the fourth worst in 2023-24.

Stephenson, a third-round pick in 2012 by the Washington Capitals, joined the Golden Knights during the 2019-20 season where he emerged into a two-time All-Star. He recorded consecutive 60-point seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23 before finishing with 16 goals and 51 points in 75 games for the Golden Knights.

His arrival means the Kraken will likely use him and 2023 Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers to anchor their top two lines alongside wingers such as Andre Burakovsky, Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann and Jaden Schwartz under former Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, who will enter his first season with the franchise.

ESPN NHL reporter Ryan S. Clark contributed to this report.