Panthers defenseman Steve Montador was awarded nearly a 63 percent raise Monday when the NHL announced the results of his arbitration hearing Friday in Toronto.

Montador, who earned $500,000 last season, will make $800,000 next season. His qualifying offer had been just $550,000.

"I'm happy with the reward," Montador said from his home outside Toronto. "I didn't necessarily want to go to arbitration, but it was the only thing both sides could do from where we were at."

While past arbitration cases involving the Panthers have been contentious and left players upset with the club, Montador indicated this one, in which Assistant General Manager Randy Sexton represented the club, was more civil.

"Starting from when you're in (youth hockey) you're bound to hear things you're not going to like," he said. "I can deal with it."

GM Jacques Martin added, "The arbitration was done very professionally by both sides, and both sides are probably happy with the judgment."

The ruling leaves Stephen Weiss and Noah Welch as the team's only unsigned free agent with the start of training camp still five weeks away. Martin said he remained "very optimistic" the team will be able to sign Weiss to a long-term deal.