Josh Anderson didn’t waste any time making clear what Brendan Gallagher meant to the Canadiens.
Following Gallagher’s exit from Montreal, Anderson offered a blunt, emotional salute to a teammate he clearly admired. “He meant so much to this city. He's an absolute warrior and the kind of guy every team would love to have in its locker room.”
That’s the kind of praise that lands because it comes from someone who plays the game the same way. Anderson has built his own reputation on a physical, hard-nosed approach, and the connection between the two men was obvious on the ice. Both were the type to throw their bodies around, absorb punishment and do whatever it took to help the team.
Anderson is coming off a 23-point season in 72 games, and he understands better than most what it means to have a teammate who leaves everything out there every night. Gallagher fit that description, and his departure is clearly being felt inside the Canadiens’ room. Anderson is now the third veteran on the team to publicly pay tribute to him.
There’s also a bigger hockey ripple here. Anderson could be asked to step into Gallagher’s spot as an alternate captain alongside Nick Suzuki.
That’s no small task. Gallagher’s personality leaves a void, and Montreal will have to figure out how to replace that presence. If anyone on the roster is built to help bridge that gap, it’s Andy.
The 2026-27 regular season can’t get here soon enough, with plenty of storylines waiting to unfold in Montreal and Vancouver.
In Other News...
Canadiens New Defense Prospect Is Already Raising Eyebrows Inside The Organization
Timofei Runtso arrived in Montreal with the kind of profile that can make a draft room lean in a little closer. Taken 57th overall by the Canadiens, the defense prospect has already started settling into the organizations Russian pipeline, a useful early step for any young player trying to find his footing in a new market. He also comes with a clear sense of identity on the ice, with a style he wants to model after one of the more recognizable names to wear that position in recent years.
For Montreal, that matters because Runtso is not just another late-round flyer hoping to blend in and wait his turn. He has a background in the NAHL and has already shown he can adapt to a different level and a different environment, which is part of what makes him intriguing inside the organization. The next question is how quickly that comfort off the ice turns into traction on it, especially as he begins building relationships with teammates and carving out his place in a crowded development picture. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Linked To A Veteran Winger Fans Will Instantly Debate
A veteran winger is already popping up in early offseason chatter around Montreal, and the appeal is easy to understand. Marc-Olivier Beaudoin floated the idea of a low-risk addition for the 2026 summer, pointing to a player with size, proven scoring touch and enough experience to help stabilize a young forward group without forcing the Canadiens into a long commitment.
The discussion gets more interesting because of the potential fit with Ivan Demidov, a pairing that would give Montreal a mix of youth and polish on the wing. Beaudoin framed it as the kind of short-term move that could make sense if the price stays reasonable, but for now it remains nothing more than speculation, the sort of idea that will draw plenty of debate long before the Canadiens have to make any real decision. [Read more 🡒]