Montreal Canadiens brace for offseason changes as Laine and Gallagher exit

Finland winger Patrik Laine spent the last four months practicing with the Canadiens but appeared in only five games due to a core‑muscle surgery and a lingering knee injury. He confirmed that his four‑year, $34.8 million contract is ending and that he will test unrestricted free agency, saying he is “excited to see new opportunities.” General manager Kent Hughes noted Laine’s lengthy absence complicated the team’s playoff push, which ended with a five‑game loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final.

Veteran winger Brendan Gallagher announced after 14 seasons that he will leave Montreal. In an emotional press conference he thanked teammates and fans, stating he is not retiring but will seek a new club. The move marks the end of an era for a player who logged 911 regular‑season games and helped the Habs reach the 2021 Stanley Cup final.

Other offseason notes include prospect Alexander Zharovsky training in Montreal under Ivan Demidov, and rumours that the Canadiens are targeting Slovak forward Lucian Bernát in the second round of the upcoming draft. The team’s leadership, including GM Hughes and head coach Jeff Gorton, indicated further roster adjustments will follow the summer.