Brendan Gallagher’s run in Montreal has come to an end, and the Canadiens veteran is now headed to the Vancouver Canucks in a trade that sends him back to his hometown.
The move closes the book on a situation that had been building for weeks, with Gallagher getting exactly the kind of outcome he wanted. Family was clearly a big part of it, and the deal ultimately got done between the two teams.
The last scene of Gallagher in a Canadiens sweater came in Brossard, where he was on the ice with some familiar faces. Lane Hutson, Adam Nicholas, and Jake Evans were there with him, and that moment now carries a different weight. It will stand as the final image of Gallagher wearing Montreal colors.
His numbers in Montreal tell the story of a long and meaningful stay. Gallagher played 911 games for the Canadiens and put up 487 points, while also being named an Honorary Citizen of the City of Montreal. He left a real imprint on the organization and on the fan base that watched him for years.
Gallagher, 34, was drafted by Montreal in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, 147th overall. In 2025-26, he posted 23 points in 77 games for Martin St-Louis’ team, including seven goals.
Now he heads to Vancouver, where he’ll continue his NHL career with the Canucks and be reunited with loved ones in a city that means a great deal to him. Montreal fans, meanwhile, will always remember No. 11.
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The part that will keep the debate going is how that comparison is being framed, because Hughes made clear it was about style rather than a forecast of where the players career ends up. For a fan base that has spent years dissecting draft fits and identity picks, that distinction matters, even if it does little to quiet the conversation around what Montreal thinks it found. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Star Winger
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Even so, the fit is hardly simple. Montreal is not believed to be eager to blow up its internal salary structure to make the deal work, and that could keep this from moving beyond intriguing speculation. For now, the story is less about a completed pursuit than it is about the Canadiens suddenly being credible enough to enter the conversation at all. [Read more 🡒]