The Montreal Canadiens parted ways with one of their longtime staples on Monday, shipping veteran forward Brendan Gallagher off to the Vancouver Canucks in a deal that brings back only future considerations.
At 34 years old, Gallagher spent 14 seasons as a cornerstone of the Canadiens organization but had seen his role diminish in recent years. He still has one season remaining on the six-year, $39 million contract he signed back in 2020, which carries an average annual value of $6.5 million.
To get the trade across the finish line, Montreal agreed to absorb 50% of the remaining contract value — a significant financial concession that made the move possible.
Gallagher built his reputation as a tenacious net-front presence, known for crashing the crease and creating havoc around opposing goalies. He was originally selected by Montreal in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, 147th overall, and grew up playing junior hockey with the Vancouver Giants in the WHL — meaning he returns to his hockey roots with the Canucks.
Over his 911 regular-season games in a Canadiens uniform, Gallagher recorded 246 goals and 241 assists. He also showed up when it mattered most in the postseason, contributing 14 goals and 20 assists across 79 playoff appearances.
