The Vancouver Canucks added veteran depth by acquiring Brendan Gallagher in a trade with Montreal on Monday, with NHL teams busy revamping their rosters two days before the free-agency period opens.
As part of the deal, Montreal acquired future considerations and agreed to retain 50% of the $6.5 million the 34-year-old is scheduled to make in the final season of his contract.
Gallagher is a respected leader and valuable role player in spending 14 seasons
in Montreal. He topped 20 goals five times, including a career-best 33 in 2018-19.
His playing time, however, began diminishing, with Gallagher appearing in just three playoff games in Montreal's run to the Eastern Conference final before losing to eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina.
“We love the way he completes and leads by example,” Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson said of Gallagher, who is from Edmonton and played junior hockey in Vancouver. “Bringing in veterans like Brendan will help us set the standard for our younger guys to follow.”
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes, meantime, thanked Gallagher for his contributions in Montreal.
“Brendan will always hold a special place in the hearts of Canadiens fans. He represented the team with such tremendous determination, passion and inspiring courage," Hughes said. “He is the very definition of a warrior, always putting the team’s success ahead of his own individual accolades.”
It was the second trade of the day for the rebuilding Canucks after finishing last in the standings. Vancouver acquired a 2029 third-round pick in a deal that sent winger Nils Hoglander to Nashville.
The Predators continued revamping under new general manager Chris MacFarland. Hoglander has six years of NHL experience and missed a majority of last season after having ankle surgery, and finished with two goals and three assists in 38 games.
“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,” MacFarland said. “We believe the player can come in and have a key role.”
The Buffalo Sabres re-signed checking-line forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract, retaining the player two days before he was eligible to hit the free agent market.
The average salary of $2.9 million more than doubles the $1.35 million Malenstyn made in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo. And it represents the value the 28-year-old brought to the team in a secondary role.
Last season, Malenstyn set a Sabres' single-season record with 282 hits and finished second on the team with 75 blocked shots. He scored a career-high seven goals as part of a 14-point season.
The sixth-year NHL player spent his first four seasons in Washington and was acquired by Buffalo in a trade that sent a second-round pick to the Capitals at the 2024 draft.
The San Jose Sharks signed newly acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring to a three-year, $13.5 million contract.
The 26-year-old was a pending restricted free agent, and was acquired by San Jose in a trade with Buffalo two weeks ago.
As part of the deal, the teams swapped first-round draft picks with the Sabres moving up seven spots in the order to No. 20 on Friday night.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman completed his fourth NHL season, and first in Buffalo. After topping 20 points with Arizona and Utah in each of his previous two seasons, Kesselring was limited by a nagging lower body injury and finished with two assists in 34 games last season.
— Utah acquired forward Joshua Roy in a trade that sent defenseman Maksymilian Szuber to Montreal, in an exchange of minor leaguers.
— Colorado re-signed forward Taylor Makar to a two-year deal. He made his NHL debut by appearing in 12 games last season, and the 25-year-old is the younger brother of Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar.
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.
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