Interesting no Weegar on this list. I would've put him in at #20 at least.
He did get mentioned though... (lol)
Quote:
19. Brandon Montour, Florida Panthers
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."
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-current...en/c-345580664
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I have to say, I really liked Montour's game in the playoffs. I was looking forward to watching Ekblad at the start, but it didn't take long before I was watching Montour instead.
Edit: I know I said above that I would have ranked Weegar at 20th at least... but after looking a bit more at the list, I would have bumped Doughty off and my 18/19/20 would be Weegar/Montour/Theodore.