He collected 12 points in his last 19 games, including 6 goals, so there was hope that he would bounce back this year.
Obviously, it's far too early to call it a poor start to the season for Gallagher, and I truly hope he proves many people wrong. However, at the moment, we have to admit that it hasn't started off very well.
He didn't have a great training camp, far from it, and at times, he even seemed to struggle to keep up with the pace, even during the preseason games.
Gallagher's tough camp seems to have led the excellent Anthony Desaulniers to make a rather sharp prediction about him.
He believes that Gallagher will be bought out in the summer of 2025.
Check out what the salary cap impacts and penalties would be for the Canadiens if Kent Hughes opts for this solution.
Can Gallagher still be an asset to an NHL team? Absolutely. Can he be a good veteran for young players? Without a doubt.
However, is his $6.5 million contract, which runs through 2027, worth it? That's exactly where the issue lies.
There are two other arguments that could convince Kent Hughes to turn to this option.
1. There will be some very interesting names on the NHL free agent market next summer, so Kent Hughes will clearly need cap space.
2. Gallagher could be blocking a young player who deserves a spot in the lineup. Names like Joshua Roy, Owen Beck, Oliver Kapanen, and a few others are really starting to push to become regular NHL players, so eventually, other players will need to make way.
In short, this is a situation to watch in the future!
And you, do you think Brendan Gallagher's contract will be bought out in 2025?
POLL | ||
Do you believe Brendan Gallagher's contract will be bought out in 2025? | ||
Yes | 581 | 63.9 % |
No | 328 | 36.1 % |
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