Insider believes that Montreal could trade Brendan Gallagher ahead of the trade deadline
The Montreal Canadiens are likely to undergo a major facelift on the ice in the coming months with veteran players and players on expiring contracts being dealt away for assets ahead of them hosting the NHL Entry Draft in July.
One of those veteran players that the Canadiens could move on from is Brendan Gallagher.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, he believes that there will be interest in Gallagher ahead of the March 21st trade deadline, which is eleven weeks away.
"Before you're trading Brendan Gallagher, even if you're even considering it, you're going to him and you're saying, look, you've earned the right to help make this decision," Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday.
He added, "I just think that there's going to be someone that's going to be interested in him. I think that the way he plays is a thing that a lot of people respect, I really think that you're going to be able to find somebody who's going to be interested."
Gallagher, 29, has spent his entire ten-year career with the Montreal Canadiens. The Edmonton, Alberta native is in the first year of a six-year contract that will see him earn $6.5 million until the conclusion of the 2026-27 season. In his contract, Gallagher has a modified no-trade clause, which includes a six-team no-trade list, as well as a no-movement clause. If Montreal does deicide to trade their heart and soul player, he will have the final say.
There won't be a shortage of teams either that will be lining up to acquire Gallagher's services. One team that could be interested is the Winnipeg Jets, although their cap situation may make that difficult. Having a third line of Andrew Copp (move him to left wing) or Evgeni Svechnikov, Adam Lowry at center and Brendan Gallagher on right wing would be a force to be reckoned with in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With the trade deadline eleven weeks away, expect more names from the Montreal Canadiens to hit the rumour mill.
Friedman cont'd:
I just think that's there's going to be someone that's going to be interested in him. I think that the way he plays is a thing that a lot of people respect, I really think that you're going to be able to find somebody who's going to be interested.— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) January 4, 2022
