The Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher is going to become an honorary citizen of Montreal.
Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada will oversee the ceremony at 3 p.m. Thursday at Montreal City Hall. An honorary citizen is someone “who had a lasting impact on the well-being of Montrealers through their actions, art and commitment,” according to the City of Montreal website.
Gallagher has played the last 14 seasons with the Canadiens, but the 34-year-old’s time with the team is coming to an end. After being made a healthy scratch for 16 of 19 playoff games this season, Gallagher announced that he won’t be returning to the Canadiens for the final year of his contract in 2026-27.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has given Gallagher’s agent, Gerry Johannson, permission to speak with other teams to help arrange a trade. Gallagher grew up in Vancouver and has expressed a desire to play for the Canucks. The last year of his contract carries a US$6.5 million salary-cap hit, but he will actually earn US$4 million. Gallagher’s summer home is in Tsawwassen, B.C.
Gallagher had 7-16-23 totals in 77 regular-season games this season and was a healthy scratch five times. He scored one goal in the three playoff games he played.
“It was an emotional exit interview,” Gallagher said about his last meeting with Canadiens management after the Canadiens lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. “But you put things in perspective and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I feel fortunate and blessed. And now it’s just on to the next chapter for me. Definitely not done yet. There’s a lot more left in the tank. And for us, I think we’re just excited about a new opportunity. But it’s never going to be lost on me that Montreal is going to be home.
“I’ve had conversations with (Canadiens management) and they’re going to do everything to help me find a place where I can be happy,” Gallagher added when he was honoured this month as the Sports Celebrity of the Year at the annual Montreal Sports Celebrity Evening. “Everyone wants to feel important and I feel like I’m going to find a place where I’m going to go and be able to be myself and have some use.”
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Gallagher’s wife, Emma Fortin, is from Sainte-Julie on Montreal’s South Shore. She is pregnant with their second child. Daughter Everly was born in February last year.
“We have our leader of the house and that is Emma,” Gallagher said. “She takes care of so much. We have one (child), we have another one coming. But the organization, the planning, the learning schedule … I’m the fun dad, but there’s a schedule to follow. But so much about what we do around the house, she takes care of, I’d say, 95 per cent. And when we’re on the road, she’s at home alone and she doesn’t get a day off. So that’s something I’ll always be appreciative of and I know that our girls have the absolute best role model to look up to.
“I am so grateful for the last 14 years,” Gallagher added about his time in Montreal. “Being a Montreal Canadien has really been all I’ve ever known. But for me, I am a little bit excited about what’s next for me. I’ve always loved a challenge and for me it’s going to be something new and for our family I think it’s going to be a good thing.
“The (Canadiens) will be just fine. I’m not worried about them. For me, it’s on to the next chapter and we’re excited about that. … It’s not lost on me how lucky I’ve been and how lucky I am to have spent as much time as I have in this city and represent the Montreal Canadiens. It’s a privilege of a lifetime. It’s just all happy and positive thoughts.”