VANCOUVER — The Brendan Gallagher train is gaining steam. But it’s difficult to know at this stage who or how many are driving the locomotive and where the train will go.
With his experience and leadership, professionalism and hometown, the Montreal Canadiens' winger would certainly check a lot of boxes for the Vancouver Canucks.
The former Vancouver Giants junior, who moved with his family to Metro Vancouver from Edmonton at age 12, could be a crowd favourite if he joins the Canucks in the wake of Gallagher’s declaration last week that he needs to move on from the Canadiens after spending 14 National Hockey League seasons in Montreal.
A poll on the Donnie and Dhali television show had 82 per cent of respondents saying the Canucks should acquire Gallagher.
But the acquisition cost is where things get tricky for Vancouver. There is also the matter of a $4-million salary the 34-year-old is due in the final year of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $6.5 million.
With the Canucks at the embryonic stage of a rebuild under a newly-promoted regime, general manager Ryan Johnson and co-presidents Henrik and Daniel Sedin have emphasized the need for careful, step-by-step construction, and vowed not to rush the process or take shortcuts through trade or free agency.
All of them saw first-hand the mistakes previous regimes under the Jims, Benning and Rutherford, made trying to build a winner.
Johnson declined Tuesday to discuss the Gallagher story, noting that he remains the Canadiens’ player.
But the player’s agent, Gerry Johansson, told CHEK-TV on Monday that he had contacted the Canucks and the team is interested in his client.
After Gallagher surprised his current bosses during his exit media availability with news that he would be leaving Montreal, the Canadiens have granted Johansson permission to plumb interest in Gallagher from other teams.
“I think initially they expressed interest but they have moving parts too, right?” Johansson said of the Canucks. “They do have a lot of things happening — the draft and free agents, and there's a lot coming up here. So, I do think it's on their desk, and I do think they have interest, and it's just a matter of whether it can work or not.”
Part of Johansson’s job is to cultivate a market for his client. Obviously, Gallagher, who has limited no-trade protection, would like several options to continue his NHL career. And getting as many teams as possible interested significantly helps the Canadiens, who should ideally want an asset in return for Gallagher and no loose ends on their salary sheet.
Until the suppressed salary cap began its historic, revenue-based escalation two years ago, shedding a $6.5-million contract for a 34-year-old who scored seven times in 77 regular-season games and was healthy-scratched for all but three of Montreal’s 19 playoff games would have been impossible without a serious sweetener.
But these are different economic times for the NHL, and the Canadiens will likely wait and see if they can add a draft pick for Gallagher instead of spending one to induce someone else to take him. Like most teams, Montreal is untroubled by next season’s $104-million salary cap, up from this season’s $95.5 million.
Setting aside the question of the player’s salary, the Canucks are extremely unlikely to trade a positive asset for Gallagher. As part of a deal, would Montreal take back from Vancouver a contract the Canucks want to shed for their rebuild – say, the five years and $27.5 million owed to 29-year-old winger Jake DeBrusk? That could be a conversation.
For now, however, Johansson was correct about all the things Johnson and his staff need to work through in the opening weeks of their era.
The GM still has to build out his hockey operations department, work with new coach Manny Malhotra on reconstructing the coaching staff, and finalize preparations for the June 26-27 entry draft that is critical to the Canucks, who have four picks among the first 41 selections.
Beyond that looms free agency and, more importantly, management's need to work through their existing roster and contract log to see which other veterans might be offloaded this summer.
Johnson has other priorities, even if the chance to add Gallagher at a discount for his experience and leadership — for a player fans and teammates will like — is an intriguing prospect.
Unlike the Canucks' disastrous repatriation a year ago of local kid Evander Kane, who proved untradeable at the deadline in his one-and-done season in Vancouver, there doesn’t appear to be much downside to a Gallagher homecoming besides his salary and acquisition cost.
He grew up in Tsawwassen and his dad, Ian, runs the highly successful Delta Hockey Academy.
Of course, since Gallagher wants to earn an NHL contract beyond next season, he might prefer to showcase himself on a winning team. The Canucks may not be his first option; they were merely the only other NHL team he was asked about last week.
“I can keep playing,” Gallagher said during his emotional press scrum in Montreal. “Honestly, the way I feel... I just know it's not done. I just feel like, you know, around here, the opportunity is just not going to be there. So, for me, I just need to find a new home, and... do what I do as a player.”
And Vancouver?
“You know, it's an opportunity that’s there — if it is,” he said. “I haven't had an opportunity, really, with my agent to sit down. I'm sure there'll be a couple of places, (and I will) sit down with my wife and figure out what's best for our family. And then you go forward. But certainly... Vancouver would be a great place.”
