Snapshots: Gallagher, Champions League, NWHL

The Montreal Canadiens have broken off talks with Brendan Gallagher for the time being, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. The two sides had been working on an extension for the 28-year-old forward, but as LeBrun puts it, “talks have obviously not gone great so far.”

With a year left on his contract, the level of concern for Canadiens fans should still remain pretty low, given Gallagher is the heart-and-soul of the team and brings exactly what GM Marc Bergevin has been after all offseason. Perhaps the additions Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli on long-term deals will complicate things, but with so much time left to get a deal done, it’s hard to see talks not resuming at some point.

• Champions Hockey League in Europe has decided to cancel their 2020-21 season, due to the impact of the COVID-19 situation. The league, which pits club teams from several different professional leagues against each other, has to deal with travel restrictions between 12 different countries that will make things impossible this year. They do plan on resuming in 2021-22.
• Dani Rylan Kearney is stepping down as commissioner of the National Women’s Hockey League, with Tyler Tumminia taking over on an interim basis. Tumminia was previously set to be the chairperson of the new Toronto Six franchise, but will leave that role according to Marisa Ingemi of The Ice Garden. The league is changing to an operation model of unincorporated association with a board of governors, similar to the structures found in other professional sports. Rylan Kearney will become the president of an independent NWHL ownership group.