As the Vancouver Canucks work on retooling their roster this summer, could that include bringing Brendan Gallagher home to British Columbia?

On Monday, the Montreal Canadiens held their end-of-year media availability, during which Gallagher was candid and emotional. After sitting out as a healthy scratch through the majority of the postseason in Montreal, the 34-year-old forward shared that it’s “pretty clear” he’ll be moving on from the Canadiens this summer. When asked about possible next destinations, Gallagher didn’t shy away from the possibility of returning home.

“That’s an opportunity that’s there,” he said, per Priyanta Emrith. “I’ll sit down with my wife and figure out what’s best for our family and you go forward. But certainly Vancouver would be a great place.”

Born in Edmonton, Gallagher grew up in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, a small community south of Vancouver. He played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Vancouver Giants from 2008-2012. During that time, he was drafted by the Canadiens. He made his NHL debut in the 2012-13 season and has been a staple of Montreal’s forward group for the past 14 years.

However, the veteran has seen a reduced role over the past seasons in Montreal. As the team has pivoted from rebuilding to trying to be a contender, it’s meant more playing time for the team’s young core and less opportunity for a player like Gallagher. In the playoffs this year, Gallagher made just three appearances – all in the first round – averaging 6:25 TOI per game. In the regular season, he averaged his career-lowest TOI in a season, playing 12:21 minutes per night across 77 games. In the process, he tallied seven goals and 16 assists.

Gallagher now has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $6.5 million. He brings a wealth of veteran experience and is known for being a positive presence in the locker room for younger players. As the Canucks pivot into a rebuild and the Canadiens pivot out of one, the two teams could be well-matched on the trade front.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Would you like to see the Canucks target Brendan Gallagher this summer? Let us know in the comments below!