While there were many low points during the 14-season playoff drought for the Buffalo Sabres, the 2020-21 season was certainly one of those. They set a franchise record with an 18-game winless streak, and by the trade deadline, it was clear they were not going to be making the playoffs.
The Sabres once again were in a rebuild and made several trades ahead of the trade deadline that season, with one of those being Brandon Montour to the Florida Panthers. This was a trade that in particular stung because of what they gave up, what they got in return, and what Montour did after leaving Buffalo.
Buffalo Sabres give up a first-round pick and more at the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline
Ahead of the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline, the Buffalo Sabres were fighting for a playoff spot and tried to add to their roster to help them. The Anaheim Ducks were out of the playoff race at this point and sent Montour to Buffalo for a 2019 first-round pick, which ended up being the 29th overall pick, and Brendan Guhle.
For the Ducks, the trade didn't really work out for them as Brayden Tracey, who they selected with the pick, only played in one career NHL game, while Brendan Guhle bounced between the NHL and AHL over three seasons.
Buffalo Sabres trade Brandon Montour too early with little return
While the Sabres didn't make the playoffs, Montour was productive during his time in Buffalo with 42 points in 112 games over three seasons. However, it was clear during that 2020-21 season they weren't going anywhere and began moving multiple players ahead of the deadline.
One of those players was Montour, who was traded to the Florida Panthers for only a third-round pick. The return the Sabres got might have been due to the fact that he was in the final year of his contract, but it was probably more of a reflection on the organization's inability to put players in a position to be successful.
What he did after that showed that it wasn't the player but the organization that held him back. Montour would go on to be a key part of the Panthers 2023-24 Stanley Cup team after posting a career-best 73-point season in 2022-23.
Montour has continued to have a productive career and signed a seven-year contract with the Seattle Kraken in 2024, and has a total of 73 points in two seasons. In the end, it was the right move for the Buffalo Sabres to trade for Brandon Montour, and he might not have reached this level remaining in Buffalo, but they clearly were too quick to give up on the defenseman.
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