Canadiens set to bend the rules for Brendan Gallagher

Brendan Gallagher's time with the Montreal Canadiens may be coming to an end this Wednesday, and it's the franchise that's moving toward the exit.

TSN insider Darren Dreger reported today that Gallagher's agent, Gerry Johansson, will get permission to speak with other clubs, if he doesn't have it already.

The 34-year-old winger has worn the Habs jersey for his entire NHL career. But the math has gotten complicated. He carries a $6.5 million cap hit.

For that price tag, the Canadiens got 7 goals and 23 points in 77 regular-season games this year. That's not a top-six number.

And it's not like the production surged come playoff time. He posted 1 goal in 3 games as Montreal made a deep run before falling to Carolina.

The cap figure is the real problem. At $6.5 million, Gallagher costs more than Lane Hutson, Ivan Demidov, and Oliver Kapanen combined. Those are your future.

Kent Hughes now faces the question every GM dreads: cost vs. loyalty

GM Kent Hughes has built this roster around youth and speed. Nick Suzuki at $7.875 million. Cole Caufield at $7.85 million. Those are the faces of this franchise.

A 34-year-old at $6.5 million who put up 7 goals all season is a different kind of contract. It's the kind that looks like a farewell gift more than a lineup decision.

Gallagher has been everything Montreal asked for over his career. The crease battles, the dirty work, the bleeding on the ice. Nobody is questioning what he gave this city.

But Martin St-Louis is building something that doesn't have many roster spots for that kind of sentiment.

The question now is whether any team bites at that salary. And if so, what kind of return does Kent Hughes actually get for a veteran forward on the back nine of his career?

That's not an easy sell on the trade market, even with the name value. The production just isn't there to support the number.

Dreger's report doesn't guarantee a trade gets done. It signals that the organization is opening the door and letting the market decide.