Canucks Trade Hoglander to Preds, Add Gallagher From Canadiens

The Vancouver Canucks made two roster moves in quick succession Monday, trading Nils Hoglander to the Nashville Predators before turning around and acquiring veteran winger Brendan Gallagher from the Montreal Canadiens — with the Canadiens retaining 50 percent of his salary.

It’s future considerations heading back to Montreal, who wanted to do right by Brendan Gallagher after he realized his run with the team was likely over.

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Nashville acquired Hoglander in exchange for a 2029 third-round pick originally owned by the Colorado Avalanche. The trade marks the first move by new Vancouver general manager Ryan Johnson, who said the organization wanted to accumulate assets as part of its ongoing rebuild. “We are excited to add Nils Hoglander to our mix,” GM Chris MacFarland said. “He is a 25-year-old experienced winger who is known for his relentless, high-energy style of play, bringing a consistent motor to the lineup night after night. We believe the player can come in and have a key role.”

Hoglander, 25, scored a career-high 24 goals in 2023-24 but struggled to match that production since, managing eight goals in 72 games in 2024-25 and just two goals in 38 appearances last season. He has two years remaining on his contract at a $3 million cap hit.

Gallagher Trade to Canucks Was Rumored for Some Time

The Gallagher addition had been rumored for some time. The 34-year-old concluded a challenging 2025-26 season with seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 77 games, managing a diminished role under head coach Martin St. Louis. He has one year remaining on his deal, carrying a $6.5 million cap hit — reduced to roughly $3.25 million for Vancouver with Montreal’s 50 percent retention.

The homecoming narrative is hard to ignore. Gallagher grew up in Vancouver and was recently celebrated as an honorary citizen of Montreal after a 14-season tenure that produced 246 goals and 487 points in 911 regular-season games. He said publicly that returning to Vancouver would be “a great place” and that he was “confident as ever” and “not done yet.”

For a Canucks team in the early stages of a rebuild, Gallagher will bring leadership and credibility in the room.

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