Brendan Gallagher, a warrior for the Montreal Canadiens for more than 13 seasons, is faced with a reality that has haunted him for months: the possibility of a buyout of his contract.
As discussions around this option intensify, the 32-year-old striker sees his worst fears come back to haunt him.
For a player who has always given his all on the ice, considering a premature and inglorious exit is a hard blow, both for his pride and for his legacy in Montreal.
With an average annual salary of $6.5 million until 2027, Brendan Gallagher’s contract, signed during the Marc Bergevin era, is today seen as a heavyweight for the Canadiens.
If this contract symbolized at the time a reward for Gallagher’s years of loyal service and dedication, it is now seen as an obstacle in a rebuilding team which relies on youth and speed.
Faced with criticism, David Ettedgui, Gallagher’s former agent and now a staunch defender of his client, spoke intensely to comment on the case.
This video clip, which takes us behind the scenes of Brendan Gallagher’s contract, gives goosebumps.
According to Ettedgui, Gallagher is the heart of this team. What he brings off the ice, in the room, cannot be measured in statistics.
According to him, Gallagher will not be bought, and this, for a very specific reason: his importance in the locker room.
Ettedgui also wanted to defend the contract signed under Bergevin.
Marc Bergevin was a CEO who rewarded past efforts. He believed in loyalty to the players who gave their all for this organization, and Brendan is the embodiment of that philosophy.
For Ettedgui, to question Gallagher’s value would be to ignore everything he represents to the identity of Canadians.
But this argument, although noble, struggles to allay the concerns of supporters and current leaders, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton, who must deal with a strict financial reality, especially since the contract of Juraj Slafkovsky ($7.6 million on the payroll) like next season and that they want to sign Sam Bennett this summer.
Contract buyout is a tool that Canadians could consider as early as the summer of 2025, once the limitations surrounding this process become more advantageous.
Because buying Gallagher in 2024 would have been too expensive. Here’s how a possible buyout last summer would have affected the team’s payroll:
2024-2025 : 333 000 $
2025-2026 : 2,1 M$
2026-2027 : 4,6 M$
2027-2028 : 2,1 M$
2028-2029 : 2,1 M$
2029-2030 : 2,1 M$
Buying it back in 2025 will be much more advantageous.
-But for Gallagher, this option would represent much more than just an accounting decision. A buyout would be seen as an exit through the back door, an undignified conclusion for a player who wore the blue-white-red jersey with such intensity and pride.
These takeover rumors force Gallagher to confront his greatest fears. The idea of no longer being considered essential, after being the face of effort and resilience for over a decade, is difficult to accept.
For several seasons, injuries and physical wear and tear have caught up with Gallagher, limiting his impact on the ice. His style of play, based on intensity and sacrifice, left lifelong marks on his body.
And although Gallagher had an encouraging start to the season with seven goals in 15 games, his production has plummeted since then.
Saturday night, during a game against Dallas, Gallagher was hard to see on the ice and on the bench, doubled over, out of breath, in a game where his lack of speed was obvious.
These images further fuel discussions about its decline and the possibility of moving on.
Gallagher has always been a player who embodied effort and fighting spirit. However, these qualities, once major assets, now seem insufficient in a rapidly evolving NHL.
Gallagher’s role is gradually diminishing, a fact that is difficult to ignore.
The problem for the Canadiens, and for Gallagher, is that his contract value no longer reflects his actual contribution.
At 32 years old, with a worn body and declining performance, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify his role on the ice.
As the rumors continue to intensify, Gallagher finds himself at a critical crossroads in his career. The Canadiens management will soon have to make a difficult decision:
Retain Gallagher for his leadership in the locker room, despite a hefty contract and limited contribution on the ice, while having to endure discomfort in the room.
Conduct a buyout to free up salary space and allow the team to progress in its rebuild.
For Gallagher, the idea of a buyout is a bitter pill. He always wanted to be a player who finished his career with one team, and Montreal represents much more than just a place to work for him.
But the financial and sporting reality of the NHL is no cause for sentimentality, and the time for pragmatic decisions is fast approaching.
No matter what happens, Brendan Gallagher will go down in Canadiens history as a legendary player, a symbol of resilience and passion.
But for now, he must face a painful truth: hockey is no gift, and even the most valiant warriors must one day agree to lay down their arms.
David Ettedgui can defend his former client well and recall his importance off the ice (and he does it very well), but these arguments may not be enough to change the outcome of this saga.
The shadow of redemption looms over Gallagher more than ever, and his fight to prove he can still contribute to this team becomes more and more desperate.
As the Canadiens continue their reconstruction, management will soon have to decide. For Gallagher, it will be a matter of professional survival, but for the team, it will be a strategic decision.
Whatever happens, Brendan Gallagher’s legacy in Montreal is assured, but it remains to be seen how this chapter will conclude: with honor or in the pain of a hasty departure.
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