Montreal Canadiens trade Brendan Gallagher to Canucks

Born in Edmonton, Gallagher spent his 14-year NHL career with Montreal Canadiens

The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forward Brendan Gallagher from the Montreal Canadiens for future considerations, the NHL club announced Monday.

The Canadiens confirmed the news on X, calling Gallagher the "ultimate teammate" and a "warrior."

"Thank you for everything you've done for this city, on and off the ice, Gally, and best of luck back home in Vancouver," wrote the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens are retaining 50 per cent of the remaining year on Gallagher's contract, which carries a $6.5-million US salary-cap hit.

The 34-year-old from Edmonton, who also grew up in Tsawwassen, B.C., spent his entire 14-year NHL career with Montreal, recording 246 goals and 487 points in 911 games. He previously played four years of junior hockey with the Vancouver Giants.

Brendan Gallagher says it's time to 'find a new home' in emotional Habs farewell

In a news release, the Canadiens said he participated in 77 games during the 2025-26 season, scoring seven goals and 16 assists.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes wrote that he will "always hold a special place in the hearts" of Habs fans.

"He represented the team with such tremendous determination, passion and inspiring courage," Hughes wrote in the statement.

Gallagher was named an honorary citizen of Montreal last week after announcing he would not return to the Canadiens next season.

City of Montreal names Brendan Gallagher an honorary citizen

The Canucks also sent winger Nils Höglander to the Nashville Predators on Monday for a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft.

Höglander, 25, signed a three-year, $9-million US extension after scoring a career-high 24 goals in 2023-24, but had eight goals in 72 games in 2024-25 and two goals in 38 games last season because of a lower-body injury.

And the Canadiens have acquired defenceman Maksymilian Szuber from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for forward Joshua Roy.

See Brendan Gallagher be named an honorary Montrealer