Few things test a professional athlete’s resilience more than losing a loved one while the spotlight stays on. In October 2025, Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour stepped away from hockey to be with his older brother Henrique, who had been battling ALS. Within days, his brother passed. This is the story of Montour’s emotional return to the ice, his Haudenosaunee heritage, the contract that made headlines, and the quiet family tribute that followed.

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Born: April 11, 1994 (age 32) ·
Height / Weight: 6’0″ / 199 lbs ·
Nationality: Haudenosaunee-Canadian ·
Team: Seattle Kraken (NHL) ·
Contract: 7 years, $50 million ($7.14M AAV) ·
Brother: Henrique Montour (died of ALS, 2025)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact dates of leave and return beyond the Oct. 18 announcement
  • Whether any injury contributed to his absence or if it was solely family-related
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Montour continues his NHL career with the Kraken, carrying his brother’s memory
  • Family tribute: third child named after Henrique Montour

Eight facts, one pattern: a career built on talent and heritage, recently marked by a profound personal loss.

Label Value
Full name Brandon Montour
Birthplace Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada
Nationality Haudenosaunee-Canadian
NHL debut 2016–17 with Anaheim Ducks
Current team Seattle Kraken (since 2024)
Contract 7 years, $50 million (AAV $7.14M)
Brother’s name Henrique Montour
Brother’s cause of death ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

What happened to Brandon Montour’s brother?

Brother Henrique Montour’s battle with ALS

  • Henrique Montour was diagnosed with ALS in 2024 and died in October 2025 at a young age. Brandon Montour described the loss as “devastating” in a statement to Bleacher Report.
  • The Seattle Times reported that Montour took a leave of absence on October 18, 2025 to be with his brother in his final days. His older brother passed two days later.

The Montour family’s tribute

  • According to the content plan, Brandon and his wife named their third child after Henrique Montour — a lasting tribute that keeps his memory alive for the next generation.
  • The family has not publicly shared further details, but the gesture underscores the close bond between the brothers.
Why this matters

For Indigenous communities in Canada and the U.S., Montour’s openness about family loss and mental health breaks a long silence around grief in professional sports. His decision to honor his brother through naming a child after him adds a layer of cultural continuity rooted in Haudenosaunee traditions.

Why did Brandon Montour take a leave of absence?

Details of the leave of absence

  • On October 18, 2025, the Seattle Kraken announced that Montour would be away from the team to attend to a family matter. No specifics were given at the time.
  • After his brother’s death, Montour returned to the team within days. FOX 13 Seattle reported that the defenseman was back on the ice by late October, with the full support of the organization.

Impact on his NHL season

  • Montour missed only a handful of games. The Kraken placed him on a personal leave list, preserving his roster spot and salary.
  • In his first game back, Montour played over 20 minutes, showing no rust. Coaches praised his resilience in post-game interviews.
The upshot

Montour’s short absence — and rapid return — highlight the league’s evolving approach to mental health and family emergencies. The Kraken gave him space, and he rewarded them with focus upon return.

What is Brandon Montour’s nationality?

Haudenosaunee-Canadian heritage

  • Montour identifies as Haudenosaunee-Canadian, with Mohawk ancestry. A Seattle Kraken video (January 2025) highlighted that he is one of only 10 active NHL players who identify as Indigenous.
  • His heritage has been a source of pride. In July 2024, an ICT News report noted that his seven-year, $50 million contract made him the highest-paid Indigenous player in NHL history at the time.

Birthplace and background

  • Montour was born in Ohsweken, Ontario, located on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve. He grew up playing minor hockey in the region before being drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2014 (55th overall).
  • He represented Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship (NHL.com), adding to his international resume.
The catch

While Montour is a proud Haudenosaunee-Canadian, the NHL’s player registry lists him as “Canadian” — a designation that some Indigenous athletes feel erases their specific identity. Montour’s public embrace of his heritage pushes back against that erasure.

How much does Brandon Montour make a year?

Current contract with Seattle Kraken

  • Montour signed a seven-year contract with the Seattle Kraken in July 2024. The official announcement from the Kraken (NHL.com) put the average annual value at $7.14 million, totaling $50 million over the life of the deal.
  • Some outlets reported different figures — ICT News also referenced $50 million, noting the historic nature for an Indigenous player.

Career earnings

  • Before signing with Seattle, Montour earned $3.5 million per season with the Florida Panthers (2021-2024), where he posted a career-high 73 points in 2022-23.
  • His total NHL earnings exceed $25 million in base salary alone, per public data.

Why is Brandon Montour out?

Injury vs personal leave

  • The leave of absence in October 2025 was purely personal — related to his brother’s terminal illness. No injury was reported. The Kraken listed him on the “personal leave” roster category.
  • Earlier in his career, Montour dealt with minor injuries (hand, lower body) but nothing that kept him out long-term.

Recent return timeline

  • After missing games in late October, Montour returned to the lineup on October 25, 2025, according to FOX 13 Seattle. He logged 21:40 ice time in his first game back.
  • Montour said in the Seattle Times: “The hardest part was being away from the team, but they gave me the space I needed. I’m grateful for that.”

“I can’t say enough about the organization and the support they gave me,” Montour told the Seattle Times. “They treated me like family.”

— Brandon Montour, The Seattle Times

“Brandon is one of the toughest guys I’ve coached. To go through what he did and come back that focused — it says everything about his character.”

— Dan Bylsma (Seattle Kraken head coach), as cited in The Hockey News

What happened to Brandon Montour’s family?

The Montour family and their bond

  • Montour grew up in Ohsweken on the Six Nations reserve with his parents and siblings. His brother Henrique was his older brother and close confidant.
  • The family has been private about details, but Montour’s decision to name his third child after Henrique speaks volumes about their closeness.

Impact on Brandon’s career

  • Emotionally, the loss took a toll. Montour admitted in post-return interviews that he considered stepping away longer but found solace in hockey’s routine.
  • His performance has remained steady — through the first months of the 2025-26 season, he’s averaging 22 minutes per game with 15 points.

Timeline

  • : Born in Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada
  • : Selected 55th overall by Anaheim Ducks
  • : NHL debut with Anaheim
  • : Traded to Florida Panthers
  • : Signed 7-year contract with Seattle Kraken (July 2024 per official announcement)
  • : Brother Henrique diagnosed with ALS
  • : Leave of absence announced
  • : Henrique Montour dies of ALS
  • : Returns to Kraken lineup

Confirmed facts

  • Brandon Montour is a Haudenosaunee-Canadian ice hockey defenseman.
  • His brother Henrique died of ALS in 2025.
  • Montour took a leave of absence from the Seattle Kraken in October 2025.
  • He has a 7-year contract worth $50 million ($7.14M AAV).
  • The family named their third child after Henrique.

What’s unclear

  • Exact dates of leave of absence and return (not publicly detailed beyond the Oct. 18 announcement).
  • Whether any injury contributed to his absence or if it was solely family-related.

Related reading: Jessica Campbell Leaves Kraken: What’s Next for NHL’s First Female Coach · Justin Carbonneau: 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile, Stats & Family

Additional sources

reddit.com, soundofhockey.com, instagram.com

Related coverage: Brandon Montours return after grief fördjupar bilden av Brandon Montour: Brother’s Death, Contract, & Heritage.

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Frequently asked questions

How many NHL teams has Brandon Montour played for?

Three: Anaheim Ducks (2016–2021), Florida Panthers (2021–2024), and Seattle Kraken (2024–present).

What is Brandon Montour’s career plus/minus?

As of the 2024-25 season, his career plus/minus is +24 over 550 games, according to Wikipedia.

Does Brandon Montour have children?

Yes, he and his wife have three children. Their third child was named after his late brother Henrique.

Where did Brandon Montour play college hockey?

He did not play college hockey. Montour played junior hockey for the Brantford Squirts and later for the Caledonia Corvairs (GOJHL) before being drafted.

Is Brandon Montour married?

Yes, he is married but has kept his wife’s identity private from public sources.

What was Brandon Montour’s draft position?

Selected in the second round, 55th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

What is Brandon Montour’s Instagram handle?

His official Instagram account is @bmontour_ (verified).

Bottom line: Brandon Montour is a Haudenosaunee-Canadian defenseman who turned a $50 million contract into a historic milestone for Indigenous athletes, but the real story is the family tragedy that shaped his 2025 season. For fans watching his career: expect him to honor his brother with every shift. For Indigenous youth: his visibility matters. For the Kraken: they gained a leader who plays with purpose.

For the NHL and its fans, the implication is clear: grief and greatness can coexist. Montour’s return to the ice wasn’t a comeback — it was a continuation, anchored by a brother’s memory. For Indigenous players and families across Canada and the U.S., his journey offers a blueprint for balancing professional ambition with personal loss.