Montreal will keep 50 percent of Gallagher’s salary and receive a fee from the Canucks in return.
Gallagher, 34, was on the books for $6.5 million last season and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 campaign. It has a modified no-trade clause.
Selected 147th overall by Montreal in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Gallagher spent most of his adult life with the Habs, appearing in 911 regular-season games and 79 playoff games.
Gallagher was never the most productive player on the scoresheet (246 goals and 241 assists in 14 seasons) and was better known for his poise, attitude and leadership in the Canadiens locker room.
“He’s one of the most special people, other than teammates, that I’ve ever played with,” Cole Caufield said of his veteran leader.
Gallagher last appeared in red, white and blue on May 3 in Game 7 of Montreal’s first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He became a standout for the rest of the Habs’ playoff run, beating the Buffalo Sabers in seven games before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in the East finals.
Since Gallagher has an amended no-trade clause, he had some choice as to where he would like to go as the Canadiens look to get out of his contract. Although he told reporters that if it were up to him he would have stayed in Montreal for the rest of his career, he did say that he would welcome a return home to Vancouver if given the opportunity.