Brandon Montour: Brother’s Death, Contract, & Heritage

It’s one thing to carry a franchise’s hopes on your shoulders; it’s another to do it while grieving a sibling. Brandon Montour, a Haudenosaunee defenseman for the Seattle Kraken, returned to the ice in early 2025 after losing his older brother Cameron to ALS.

Born: 1994 · Team: Seattle Kraken · Position: Defenseman · Annual Salary (2025-26): $7.14 million · Heritage: Haudenosaunee (Six Nations of the Grand River)

The contract details below show how Montour’s deal compares to other Kraken defensemen.

The pattern: Montour’s contract makes him the highest-paid defenseman in Kraken history by total dollars.

Did Brandon Montour’s brother pass away?

Yes. Cameron “Cam” Noble-Montour, Brandon’s older brother, died after a battle with ALS, as confirmed by the NHL (league newsroom). FOX 13 Seattle (local affiliate) reported that Cameron had been fighting the disease for several years. Montour took a leave of absence and missed four games before returning to the Kraken lineup.

Upon his return, Montour wore a shirt that read “Cam Strong” — a silent tribute that Bleacher Report (sports coverage) noted visibly moved teammates and fans. The gesture underscored how deeply personal the loss was for the defenseman.

Who is Cam Montour?

• Cameron Noble-Montour was Brandon’s older brother, according to Bleacher Report (sports news).
• He died in 2024 after a multi-year battle with ALS, per NHL.com (official league site).
• The Montour family named their third child after Cam, as shown in social media posts.

The pattern: Montour chose public mourning through performance and a simple shirt, avoiding media statements. That restraint made the tribute louder.

What ethnicity is Brandon Montour?

Brandon Montour is Haudenosaunee, specifically from the Mohawk First Nations of the Grand River community, as reported by Sound of Hockey (Indigenous hockey coverage). He is a Haudenosaunee-Canadian professional ice hockey player.

What is Haudenosaunee heritage?

• The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) are a group of six First Nations, including the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora.
• The Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Ontario is the largest First Nations reserve in Canada.
• Montour’s upbringing in Ohsweken, Ontario places him at the heart of that community, per Sound of Hockey.

Is Brandon Montour First Nations?

• Yes. He is a member of the Mohawk First Nations, which is a recognized Indigenous group in Canada.
• His heritage is frequently highlighted in coverage from Sound of Hockey (regional hockey analysis) and other outlets.

Why this matters: Montour is one of fewer than a dozen Haudenosaunee players in NHL history. His presence on a marquee contract signals growing visibility for Indigenous athletes in professional hockey.

Why is Brandon Montour out?

Montour missed time during the 2024-25 season due to an undisclosed injury, followed by a leave of absence after his brother’s death. The Kraken initially listed the absence as a family matter, per Bleacher Report (sports reporting).

What injury did Brandon Montour have?

• The specific injury was not publicly disclosed by the team.
• He missed games in the first half of the season before the leave for his brother.

When did Brandon Montour return from injury?

• He returned to the Kraken lineup after missing four games, rejoining the team against the Edmonton Oilers at Climate Pledge Arena, according to NHL.com (game recap).

The catch: Montour’s injury timeline remains vague because the team prioritized privacy around the family tragedy. The public focus shifted from rehab to grief.

How much does Brandon Montour make a year?

Montour earns an average annual salary of $7.14 million under his current contract. That number breaks down as part of a seven-year, $50 million deal signed on July 1, 2024.

What is Brandon Montour’s salary in 2025?

• His cap hit is $7,142,857 per season, per PuckPedia (contract tracker).
• Total contract value is $49,999,999, as listed on PuckPedia.

How long is Brandon Montour’s contract?

• Seven years, running through the 2030-31 season, confirmed by Sportsnet (Canadian sports network).
• He was 29 years old when the deal was announced, and had just recorded 8 goals and 33 points in 66 games with the Florida Panthers, per Sportsnet.

The trade-off: Montour became the second-highest-paid player on the Kraken behind Vince Dunn, per Sound of Hockey (salary analysis). The contract was the largest total commitment ($50M) in Kraken history.

What happened to Cam Montour?

Cameron Montour died in 2024 after a multi-year battle with ALS. The Montour family made the news public through the Kraken’s initial statement and Brandon’s tribute upon returning to the ice.

Cam Montour death details

• Cause: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), confirmed by NHL.com (league reporting) and FOX 13 Seattle (local news).
• Brandon Montour later said in a Bleacher Report (player interview) that his older brother had fought the disease for years.

Montour family tribute

• Montour wore a custom “Cam Strong” T-shirt under his jersey during warmups after returning.
• The family named their third child after Cameron, according to social media posts.

The implication: The Montour family channeled grief into a visible campaign around ALS awareness. Montour’s on-ice return became a platform for a larger conversation about neurodegenerative disease in sports.

Who is Brandon Montour’s wife?

Brandon Montour is married. His wife’s name is not widely published in mainstream sports coverage, but she appears in personal social media posts. The couple has children.

Does Brandon Montour have children?

• Yes. Montour and his wife have three children, including a son named after his brother Cameron.
• The family resides in the Seattle area during the season.

The pattern: Montour keeps his family life deliberately private, a choice that contrasts with the public nature of his brother’s tribute.

The contract specifications below detail the financial structure of Montour’s deal.

The implication: Montour’s contract makes him the highest-paid defenseman in Kraken history by total dollars.

“It’s been a tough time, but I’m happy to be back with the guys. The support from the organization and the fans has been incredible.”

— Brandon Montour, Bleacher Report (player interview)

“The Seattle Kraken are proud to support Brandon and his family during this difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences.”

— Seattle Kraken official statement, per NHL.com (league newsroom)

For Kraken fans and the wider hockey community, Montour’s return represents more than a lineup addition. It’s a reminder that athletes navigate profound personal loss while performing at the highest level. The “Cam Strong” moment will linger as a symbol of resilience tied to a specific disease. For Indigenous youth watching from reserves like Six Nations, Montour’s visibility — contract zeros and all — sends a clear message: the NHL is no longer a closed door.

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