So much for all of the perceived drama surrounding the Montreal Canadiens adding right wings Tyler Toffoli and Josh Anderson on long-term contracts while homegrown star winger Brendan Gallagher was entering the final year of his contract. Montreal’s recent moves apparently have nothing to do with their allegiance to Gallagher and reports that “talks had stalled” were clearly overblown. The team has announced that the two sides have agreed to a six-year, $39MM extension that will begin with the 2021-22 season. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun adds that the contract contains a full No-Movement Clause.
Gallagher, 28, was believed to be heading for free agency next summer for the first time in his career after it appeared that he and the Canadiens were not close on a new contract. Instead, the fan favorite will remain with Montreal through the 2026-27 season at an AAV of $6.5MM. The deal represents a sizeable increase over his current $3.75MM AAV, but it has been well earned. Gallagher played all 82 games and topped 50 points in back-to-back seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He missed some time this past season, but still managed to record 43 points in 59 games, a 59-point pace over an 82-game season which would have been a career best. Given the offensive improvements that Montreal has made, not only off-season additions but in bringing up talented prospects as well, Gallagher could have 60+ point upside over much of the term of this new contract. That would result in this contract looking like a very fair value.
One concern that Montreal will have with Gallagher’s new deal is durability. Gallagher’s injury absence last season was due to a concussion and post-concussion symptoms, which is worrisome in its own right, but moving forward his 5’9″, 184-lb. frame may not hold up as well as he gets older. Gallagher plays an aggressive game and does not let his size hold him back, but he could be more of an injury risk down the line. With this extension already compensating him at his ceiling, the team hopes that they will get Gallagher at full strength as much as possible. Fortunately, he set a career high in ice time per game last season and shows no signs of slowing down in the immediate future.
The other note on Gallagher’s future in Montreal is of course the impending 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. While this new contract carries a full No-Movement Clause, the extension will not kick in until after expansion. As a result, Gallagher can still be exposed for Seattle to select next summer. The odds are slim that this will occur, but with so much money and term locked up at right wing, the Canadiens could get out from under Gallagher’s contract before it begins in the case of a poor performance this coming season.
Bergevin is all over the place
He’s the GM version of Brian Savage.
Bergevin is assembling the deepest and highest paid collection of second line right wingers in NHL history.
Who needs a first line anyways? #overrated
#VegasBorn
Montreal hockey press gonna Montreal hockey press.
How much have they spent on RW?
While it might be a little bit of an overpay (the injury history comes to mind), if there is anybody that comes close to deserving this it’s Gally. He truly is a heart-and-soul guy there, but he definitely needs a Weber-proof Kevlar suit to wear when on net-front presence duty. This aside, @wu tang killa beez is correct (IMO) in his statement that Bergevin’s all over the place. Mauve sport coats and potted plant props will do that to your judgement center upstairs.
A bit of an overpay?….lol…..a lot of understatement!
@hersch – Gallagher’s current deal going through next season is $3.75MM, which most people believe he has outplayed, so the extension makes up for that underpay. He has had one of the least-discussed bargain contracts in the league, and is a fairly reliable (when not injured) point producer. So, in my view, it isn’t as an egregious overpay as some we have seen just this off season. The guy truly does play bigger than his 5’9″ frame and is fearless in front of the net. Now, if he can figure out how to keep clear of the concussion/broken hand crap, he’ll be “In Like Flint”.
“In Like Flint,” that’s my favorite movie, baby!
I’m not arguing that he’s a useful player. Yes he plays with an edge and yes he has skill. But he’s no first liner. He’s definitely a third liner. Is he a second liner? Debatable. Is a second liner worth $6.5M a year? NO, unless he can carry that line. Can he carry that line? Can’t carry a line from the infirmary. And you’re going to bet on a band-aid boy for 6 years at the rate??? Wow. Let’s just say Montreal will still be paying Gallagher (and regretting it) long after Bergevin has been fired.
@hersch – Unlike Anderson, Gally hasn’t missed nearly as much time. He’s been a reliable point producer in a middle-six role, which many teams can’t say about their middle-six guys. *If* he can stay healthy, which, for Brendan, is a legit concern, this will still be a bit of an overpay, but at least he will come closer to earning it. I think many feel it looks worse than it is due to the COVID-factor, which is understandable. And, it would be terrible on a team that wasn’t nearly in the same state of financial health as the Habs. Plus, Bergevin might have a different idea on salary structure for each line, compared to other teams. His track record, however, suggests that being a maverick there might not pan out like he thinks. Kind of like over-emphasizing analytics and forgetting the eye-test with some teams we all know…
@The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant – And, don’t forget “Our Man Flint” !
Seems like an overpay for a 28 year old player with concussion history. Canadiens locking up a team for the next 5 years that hasn’t even played together.
Awesome….next few years should be exciting in montreal….love Gally, even if they overpaid
As much as I hate to say Montreal has had one of the best offseasons so far
Idk the Anderson and Edmundson contracts have the potential to hamstring them for a long time if they don’t work out, and each have at least a decent chance of blowing up. The Toffoli and Allen additions were pretty shrewd though.
Edmunson 3 years Allen 3 years both nhl players and1 of them will be gone at expansion,those contracts won’t hamstring at all 3 11million dollar forwards can hamstring a team lol
Edmundson is 4 years long and he has some serious Alzner similarities to him.
You obviously don’t watch much hockey lol edmunson is nothing like alzner! Seriously where did you get that comparison?
Defensive defenceman with declining numbers. If he suffers any more of a decline, they will be alike, it’s really not that hard to see.
You know he scored more goals than chabot and numerous other dmen, tied for 8th in the league
Well if the good thing is if somebody isn’t working out they can work a deal for the kraken to take said player, that worked wonders for the knights
Worth every penny
Worth every penny???? Maybe on the Long Term IR it is! He ain’t worth no 6.5 mil per year but put that on the LTIR and then it’s be worth it!
My leafs have 3 guys averaging 11 million Gallagher’s contract is just fine the leafs could use someone like him
Some good things being done by Marc for a change. I am surprised.Is this a make or break year foe hi I wonder?. Still don’t see playoffs; but improvement is there for a change.
So I guess that toffoli is Seattle bound after one year in Montreal.
Kinda had to do it but this contract will bust hard.