The Vancouver Canucks have fully embraced a rebuild, and the Montreal Canadiens are officially moving out of theirs. The 2025/26 NHL season represented vastly opposite trajectories for the two franchises, with the Canadiens going all the way to the Eastern Conference Final and the Canucks bottoming out.
Vancouver’s hope was that giving up on the season would land them the No. 1 overall pick that ultimately went to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, with the 3rd overall pick in hand, the Canucks’ plan is to set up a strong culture for a hard reset after what was a thoroughly uneventful season.
Part of that reset appears to be swinging a trade for a Canadiens veteran looking for a change of scenery.
Canucks Trade Rumors: Brendan Gallagher’s Agent Sets the Record Straight
At his end-of-season media availability, Montreal Canadiens veteran Brendan Gallagher broke down in tears while addressing what comes next.
“So thankful and so fortunate to have spent as much time as I have here. The fans, right from Day 1, it’s been truly a privilege to play in front of them. It’s an opportunity that not a lot of players get in this league. I’ve gotten to do it for 14 years now, and it’s not lost on me how special it was to call Bell Centre home.
“There’s been ups and downs, but I don’t have a single regret. It’s pretty clear I’ll be moving on,” Gallagher said, fighting back tears. “I’m just very fortunate.”
Gallagher also spoke about potentially moving to Vancouver, adding, “That’s an opportunity that’s there… I’ll sit down with my wife and figure out what’s best for our family and go forward, but certainly Vancouver would be a great place.”
On Monday, June 8, plugged-in Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal spoke to Gallagher’s agent to get his side of the story.
“I think initially they expressed interest, but they have moving parts too. We’re pretty close to what the teams are doing, but you really don’t know what’s going on inside their operations.
“They do have a lot of things happening: the draft, free agency; there’s a lot coming up here. I do think it’s on their desk, and I do think they have an interest. It’s just a matter of if it can work or not,” Gallagher’s agent said.
“I do think it’s on their desk and they do have interest..”
President & CEO for The Sports Corporation, Gerry Johansson talked about whether the #Canucks have interest in his client, Brendan Gallagher.
Full interview coming up at 10:15am on @CHEK_News & YouTube channel.… pic.twitter.com/wMRIKuqjQZ
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) June 8, 2026
Gallagher will enter the final year of his eight-year, $39 million contract with Montreal, but the Habs may need to attach a sweetener to move off that deal.
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Gallagher was picked 147th overall in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft by Montreal and he has since suited up for 911 regular-season games and 79 playoff games with the franchise. At this stage of his career, Gallagher’s leadership appears to be the primary selling point, something Vancouver is dying for as they look to reshape what it means to be a Canuck in this new era of Vancouver hockey.
If this is it, Gallagher’s last appearance in a Montreal shirt will have been Game 7 of the Canadiens’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was healthy-scratched for the rest of their playoff run.
