NHL Network released its list of the Top-20 defensemen in the league and Florida Panthers blueliner Brandon Montour came in at number 19.
Montour’s NHL career reached a new level after he was traded to the Panthers by the Buffalo Sabres on April 10, 2021, for a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 29-year-old had 37 points in 2021-22 and an NHL career-high 73 last season (16 goals, 57 assists) to go along with 107 penalty minutes in 80 games. Montour’s five goals in the 2023 Eastern Conference First Round were the most by a defenseman in a single series since Ed Jovanovski had five for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Wild. Montour led defensemen with eight playoff goals last season and was the 10th different player at the position to score at least that many in a single playoff year.
“It’s amazing to me how he just burst onto the scene with the opportunity on a really good team with the Florida Panthers,” NHL Network analyst E.J. Hradek said. “…Career highs in goals, assists and points for him. … First defenseman with 70 points and (at least) 100 penalty minutes since Chris Chelios in ’95-96 (72 points, 140 penalty minutes with Chicago Blackhawks). … He is someone that transitioned into defense late in his development…He’s found his way now with MacKenzie Weegar out of the picture in Florida, he’s stepped in. No problem.”
NHL News
The Philadelphia Flyers signed Oliver Bonk to a three-year, entry-level contract. Philadelphia selected Bonk in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Bonk, a right-handed defenseman, produced 10 goals and 30 assists in 67 games with the OHL’s London Knights last season.
Charlotte Checkers
The Checkers inked forward Sean Josling to a one-year, two-way AHL contract.
Josling, 24, posted 12 goals and 19 points in 32 ECHL games for the Wheeling Nailers last season before joining the Florida Everblades and scoring nine goals in 15 games to close out the regular season. In the playoffs he led Florida with 20 points (10G/10A) in 22 games and helped the Everblades capture their second straight Kelly Cup.
A native of Toronto, Josling has appeared in 27 AHL games over his career, logging two points (1G/1A) and 52 penalty minutes while suiting up for the San Diego Gulls and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. At the ECHL level, Josling has accumulated 41 goals and 89 points in 133 games for Wheeling and Florida.
Prior to turning pro, he spent four seasons in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting, producing 189 points (86G/103A) in 250 games and earning a spot on the OHL Third All-Star Team in 2019-20.
Woman’s World Championship Division 1A
In yesterday’s games from Shenzhen, China, Austria (2-0) edged Denmark (1-1) 1-0 with the game-winning goal going to Anna Meixner at 1:05 mark of the second period. Selma Luggin posted a 28-save shutout while Denmark’s Caroline Bjergstad stopped 26 shots.
The Netherlands (1-1) bounced back from an opening-day loss to blank Slovakia (0-2) 3-0. Esther de Jong, Savine Wielenga and Bieke van Nes lit the lamp and Eline Gabriele stopped all 33 shots.
Minghui Kong scored twice and added an assist to lead China (2-0) to a 5-3 victory over Norway (0-2). Mulan Kang, Xin Fang and Xifing Zhang also tallied for the host team. Emma Bergesen, Millie Sirum and Emilie Kruse scored for Norway.
Today is an off-day and play will resume on Wednesday.
The first and second-place teams in the tournament will be promoted to the Top Division for the 2024 World Championship, replacing Hungary and France, while the bottom team will be relegated to Division 1B.