What happened: The Canadiens have traded forward Brendan Gallagher to the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations, sending the veteran to his hometown. Montreal is retaining 50 percent of Gallagher's salary as part of the deal. Gallagher had one year left on his contract at a $6.5M cap hit.

Why it matters: The move closes a long chapter in Montreal, where Gallagher spent his entire career and became one of the franchise's most recognizable players. For Vancouver, adding the 34-year-old brings a familiar name home while Montreal continues to reshape its roster. This follows weeks of speculation around Gallagher's place among Montreal's trade candidates entering draft week.

What to watch: Watch how Vancouver deploys Gallagher in its lineup for the 2026-27 season and how Montreal applies the freed cap space as the offseason continues.