Brendan Gallagher is aware of what it takes to climate a rebuild.
It’s a data that’s certain to come in useful as he strikes from the Montreal Canadiens to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Canucks acquired the veteran ahead from the Habs for future concerns on Monday, bringing his 14 seasons with Montreal to an official finish.
Montreal Canadiens participant Brendan Gallagher speaks throughout a ceremony naming him as a Citizen of Honour at Metropolis Corridor in Montreal, on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Montreal mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada appears on as Montreal Canadiens participant Brendan Gallagher indicators the golden e-book throughout a ceremony naming him a Citizen of Honour at Metropolis Corridor in Montreal, on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
“I hope there’s some younger gamers I will help out, assist expedite their growth, clearly. And there are specific areas of what being a professional is all about that I’ll be capable of hopefully, deliver to the group,” Gallagher stated in a video name.
“However so far as what I’m anticipating, I’m coming right into a workforce that I’m wanting ahead to attending to know the blokes, and from there I believe we’re going to compete each single evening, and I sit up for doing that with them.”
The Canadiens are retaining 50 per cent of the remaining 12 months on Gallagher’s contract, which carries a US$6.5-million salary-cap hit.
Montreal Canadiens proper wing Brendan Gallagher (11) appears for the puck with Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) throughout first-period NHL motion in Vancouver, Wednesday, March 10, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The transfer returns Gallagher and his rising household to the West Coast, the place he grew up in Tsawwassen, B.C.
“It was perhaps the worst stored secret that this was type of what I had hoped for, anyhow, for each my each myself as an expert, but additionally my household,” he stated. “That is simply one of the best case situation.”
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It’s the primary time in his profession that Gallagher has been traded. He and his spouse, Emma, have a younger daughter and can keep in Montreal whereas they await the approaching delivery of their second youngster.
Montreal Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher (11) reacts as he’s acknowledged for his 900th NHL sport throughout first interval NHL hockey motion in opposition to the Boston Bruins in Montreal on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
“I’m very grateful,” he stated of how Montreal’s entrance workplace handled the transfer.
“I believe they dealt with it with a lot respect, and I’m endlessly appreciative of that. They requested me what was going to be greatest, and so they labored to that resolution … I’ve obtained nothing dangerous to say in regards to the Montreal Canadiens. It’s been an absolute pleasure and 14 unbelievable seasons, and now I’m simply excited for the subsequent chapter.”
Initially picked within the fifth spherical of the 2010 draft (147th total), the 34-year-old winger has spent his whole 14-year NHL profession with the Canadiens. He recorded 246 objectives and 487 factors in 911 regular-season video games, and added one other 14 objectives and 34 factors over 79 post-season contests.
Gallagher was named an honorary citizen of Montreal final week after asserting he wouldn’t return to the Canadiens subsequent season.
Montreal Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher in motion throughout an NHL hockey sport in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers, April 14, 2026, in Philadelphia.
(AP Picture/Derik Hamilton, File)
“On behalf of the whole Canadiens group, we want to sincerely thank Brendan for every little thing he has dropped at this workforce over the course of his exceptional 14-season profession in Montreal,” Canadiens common supervisor Kent Hughes stated in a press release.
“Brendan will at all times maintain a particular place within the hearts of Canadiens followers. He represented the workforce with such great dedication, ardour and galvanizing braveness. He’s the very definition of a warrior, at all times placing the workforce’s success forward of his personal particular person accolades.”
The transfer to Vancouver reunites Gallagher together with his former teammate, Manny Malhotra.
Malhotra performed the ultimate season of his NHL profession in Montreal in 2014-15 earlier than shifting into teaching. He was named the Canucks’ latest head coach on June 1.
Montreal Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher leaves the dressing room after talking to the media throughout their finish of season information convention in Brossard, Que., on Monday, June 1, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
“Manny was an superior teammate,” Gallagher stated. “He stepped into our group there in Montreal once I was a younger participant, and he was desperate to share his data … or simply, on the street, if he noticed a man was struggling, he’d simply pull you apart, and have a chat.
“It was a pleasure to play with him, and I’m very wanting ahead to enjoying for him. A man that I’m certain everybody can be excited to go to battle for.”
The Canucks additionally despatched winger Nils Höglander to the Nashville Predators on Monday for a third-round choose within the 2029 NHL Draft.
Höglander, 25, signed a three-year, US$9-million extension after scoring a career-high 24 objectives in 2023-24, however had eight objectives in 72 video games in 2024-25 and two objectives in 38 video games final season due to a lower-body harm.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed June 29, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press