Kraken Defenseman Out Against The Maple Leafs Due To The Birth Of His Second Child

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour will be out against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to the birth of his second child.

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour will be out against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to the birth of his second child.

The 30-year-old recorded a hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday but will fly home as his family welcomes their baby girl.

Montour was born in Brantford, Ontario, and playing against the Maple Leafs means a lot to Ontario-born hockey players.

Montour has been everything the Kraken could have wanted, scoring four goals and nine points in 10 games. The Kraken will miss him against a Maple Leafs team filled with offensive talent but he could be back with the team for their game in Ottawa on Saturday. At the moment, HC Dan Bylsma has said their is no timeline for when he might reunite with the team. 

Cale Fleury will step into the lineup to replace Montour. Both Fleury and John Hayden were called up before the Kraken left for their road trip as emergency depth pieces. Tonight's game will be Fleury's season debut but he's been off to a fast start in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In four games, he's scored three goals and four points. 

Fleury alone won't be able to replicate Montour's production and overall impact on the game but it allows players like Ryker Evans and Will Borgen to play more minutes against tougher competition. Evans has excelled early in the season but tonight's game against the Maple Leafs may be his biggest test yet.

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