Brendan Gallagher named honorary citizen in Montreal as Canadiens exit nears

The honour comes after Gallagher emotionally announced during his end-of-season media availability earlier this month that he will not return to the team next season.

Head coach Martin St. Louis reduced Gallagher’s role late in the season and during the playoffs, resulting in him playing in only three of the team’s 19 post-season games.

Gallagher has one year remaining on his six-year, US$39-million contract, which carries an annual salary-cap hit of $6.5 million. The team’s management has two possible options: trading him or buying out his contract.

Selected by the Canadiens in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL draft, Gallagher has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the organization, recording 246 goals and 487 points in 911 games. He added 14 goals and 34 points in 79 playoff games.

As for what comes next, Gallagher did not rule out a return close to home with the Vancouver Canucks. Born in Edmonton, Gallagher grew up in Tsawwassen, B.C., and played four seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants.

“It just needs to be a place where my family is comfortable. I think that’s the first priority,” he said. “We’re going to have two kids under two and my wife and my kids are No. 1. Then after that, finding a place that I can go and do what I need do, play my game and find a place I can be helpful to a group.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a solution out there, a place out there where we can find all that.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2026.

Tommy Thurber, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Brendan Gallagher named honorary citizen in Montreal as Canadiens exit nears

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