Overview
- Reports on Wednesday say general managers Kent Hughes of Montreal and Ryan Johnson of Vancouver have continued trade talks with the Canucks as the leading suitor for Gallagher.
- If Montreal cannot complete a trade that makes sense the club plans to trigger a buyout before the NHL window closes on June 30, which would make Gallagher a bought-out free agent.
- Gallagher has one year left on his deal with a $6.5 million average annual value, and a buyout would save Montreal roughly $2.66 million against the 2026–27 cap while creating about $1.33 million of dead cap in 2027–28.
- The Canadiens have publicly framed the move as an effort to treat their 14-season veteran fairly and to give him an opportunity to continue his career elsewhere.
- Beyond the immediate roster math, the outcome will shape Montreal’s short-term salary flexibility and determine whether Gallagher moves to Vancouver or tests the market as a buyout free agent.