Vancouver Canucks are interested in trading for Brendan Gallagher
The Vancouver Canucks appear to be open to making a trade for Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher.
Gallagher, who grew up in Tsawwassen, has spent his entire 911-game career in a Habs uniform. After being healthy scratched in all but three of the Canadiens’ playoff games, the 34-year-old made it clear that he won’t be returning to Montreal in 2026-27.
“I’m going to keep playing. There’s more in the tank,” Gallagher told reporters last week. “Obviously, I would have loved for it to be here. It’s just one of those situations where I guess my time has come, and they’ve moved on. For me as a player, I’m looking forward to kind of getting back to what I do.”
The Canucks were a team immediately linked to Gallagher for a variety of reasons. One is that they have plenty of cap space to add his $6.5-million salary. He also provides a great veteran presence, which the locker room needs, and, perhaps, the cherry on top, he spent his entire junior hockey career with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants.
On Monday morning, Gallagher’s agent, Gerry Johansson, told CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal and Don Taylor that the Canucks have expressed interest, though by no means is a deal between the two sides a guarantee.
“I think initially they expressed interest, but they have moving parts too,” Johansson said. “We’re pretty close to what the teams are doing, but we really don’t know what’s going on inside their operations. They do have a lot of things happening.
“I do think it’s on their desk, and I do think they have interest. It’s just a matter of whether it can work or not. I think that’s always the case. Until it’s done it’s never done.”
Given how much sense the fit seems to make for both sides, Gallagher was asked about the possibility of returning to Vancouver. While it remains to be seen how things will play out, he certainly seemed open to it.
“I haven’t had an opportunity with my agent to sit down [and talk about the future]… I’ll sit down with my wife and figure out what’s best for our family. And then you go forward,” Gallagher explained.
“But certainly, Vancouver would be a great place.”
It doesn’t seem to be a case of Gallagher simply not ruling out the Canucks, either. Johansson made it clear that his client would love to join the organization.
“He grew up there, played there, was really successful there. He has a house there, his family is there,” Johansson said. “We talk about other teams as well. Obviously Vancouver is going to have to get things squared away on their end if this is going to work.”
After scoring 21 goals a season ago, Gallagher’s production declined in 2025-26. In 77 games, he managed seven goals and 23 points.
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