The Buffalo Sabres have moved their first big piece off the roster just ahead of Monday's NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET.
The Sabres announced Saturday afternoon the trade of defenseman Brandon Montour to the Florida Panthers for a third round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. David Pagnotta from The Fourth Period was the first to report the trade.
TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger also reports that the Sabres will not retain any salary in this deal with the Panthers, meaning that all $3.85 million of Montour's contract will come off Buffalo's salary cap.
Montour was acquired by the Sabres just before the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline by former general manager Jason Botterill from the Anaheim Ducks. In that trade, Buffalo was forced to give up defensive prospect Brendan Guhle and a first round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
In 112 career games with the Sabres, Montour was able to produce 13 goals and 29 assists for 42 points. This season in Buffalo, the 26-year-old defenseman was able to net five goals and add nine assists for 14 points in 38 games played.
It was likely that the Sabres were going to move Montour this season, as he signed a one-year "prove it" contract in the offseason to stay in Buffalo. Once his contract was set to expire in the offseason, Montour was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign anywhere he pleases around the NHL.
Montour becomes the third player traded by the Sabres since the start of the 2020-21 season. Buffalo first traded goalie Jonas Johansson to the Colorado Avalanche for a sixth round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft back on March 20, then moved veteran forward Eric Staal to the Montreal Canadiens for third and fifth round picks in the 2021 NHL Draft on March 26.
The Sabres have one more game remaining on their schedule before Monday's deadline. The team will travel to Philadelphia to play the Flyers on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET.