A long-tenured Montreal Canadiens forward is on the move.
The Canadiens dealt Brendan Gallagher to the Vancouver Canucks, the team announced on Monday.
Montreal will retain 50 per cent of Gallagher's salary and receive future considerations from the Canucks in return.
Gallagher, 34, is on the books for one last season at $6.5 million and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 campaign. He has a modified no-trade clause.
Selected by Montreal 147th overall in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, Gallagher has spent the majority of his adult life with the Habs, suiting up for 911 regular-season games and 79 playoff games.
“On behalf of the entire Canadiens organization, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Brendan for everything he has contributed to this team over his impressive 14-season career in Montreal,” general manager Kent Hughes said in a statement.
“Brendan will always hold a special place in the hearts of Canadiens fans. He defended the team's colours with such determination, passion and inspiring courage. He is the very definition of a warrior, always putting the team logo before his individual success. He has always conducted himself like a true Montreal Canadiens, both on the ice and in our community, where he had such a significant impact. We wish him all the best in Vancouver.”
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Never the most productive player on the scoresheet — tallying 246 goals and 241 assists over his 14 seasons — Gallagher was better known for his grit, attitude and leadership within the Canadiens' locker room.
"He's one of the most special humans, besides teammates, that I've ever got to play with," Cole Caufield said of his veteran leader.
Gallagher's last appearance in red, white and blue came on May 3 in Game 7 of Montreal's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was a healthy scratch for the remainder of the Habs' playoff run as they beat the Buffalo Sabres in seven games, then lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the East Final.
Because Gallagher has a modified no-trade clause, he had some choice about where he'd like to go as the Canadiens look to offload his contract. Though he told reporters that, if it were up to him, he'd stay in Montreal for the rest of his career, he did say that he'd welcome a return home to Vancouver if the opportunity is presented to him.
