“It’s On Their Desk”: Gallagher Trade to Canucks Close?

Reports are surfacing that the Vancouver Canucks have a legitimate interest in acquiring veteran forward Brendan Gallagher from the Montreal Canadiens. Several insiders, including Rick Dhaliwal, are noting that Gallagher’s agent has spoke with Vancouver about a trade and the Canucks are contemplating the deal.

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Gerry Johannson (Gallagher’s agent) said, “Vancouver has initially expressed interest but lots of moving parts. It’s on their desk, they do have interest.”

He added, “We’re pretty close to what the teams are doing, but you really don’t know what’s going on inside their operations, and they do have a lot of things happening, the draft and free agents, there’s a lot coming up here.” Johansson said, “Until it’s done, it’s never done.”

Gallagher Makes Sense for the Canucks

Gallagher has said his time with the Canadiens is over. Speaking to the media at the end of the season, and after being a healthy scratch for most of the Canadiens’ series with the Carolina Hurricanes, he’s looking for a new opportunity with one season remaining on his contract. But, because he’s got a $6.5 million salary-cap hit. A trade isn’t simple.

Gallagher does bring a lot to the Canucks that they might be looking for. He’s provides energy, leadership, is willing to sacrifice and grind. As Vancouver goes through a rebuild and wants to put an emphasis on culture, Gallagher is almost the perfect type player to add to the roster. Whether the two sides can come to a trade that works, likely involving some kind of salary retention, remains to be seen.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Kings, Canadiens & Strange News