Brendan Gallagher publicly asked to leave the Canadiens and he's exactly what the Leafs locker room needs

Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher requested a trade and is looking set to leave the team this summer, and he's the perfect leader to help balance the locker room.

The Montreal Canadiens cleared out their locker on Monday after being defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals and Brendan Gallagher was not too pleased. He revealed that he held a bit of a grudge for how he wasn't given a chance in some of the team's biggest games and wants to move on, and Toronto needs to be the first call to his agent.

Gallagher, 34, struggled offensively this season with only 23 points in 77 games with an even-zero plus/minus but did add 98 hits. You can't take this season as a glimpse into who he is as a player though, as he's averaged 17.5 goals and 34 points for his career while giving Montreal a true bulldog mentality on the ice.

But with him not really being used in the postseason, only appearing in three games for Montreal's entire run - he's a bit resentful.

Brendan Gallagher admits it's time to move on from Montreal after barely being used in the postseason

Gallagher was pressed during the Canadiens' locker room clean out about how he felt his season ended and he wasn't shy about how he felt about being passed over time and time again and is ready to move on:

Near the end of the year getting pulled from the lineup when there were big opportunities it's hard to look the other way. You know, it's a coaching decision, but if my number isn't going to be called then you know, I think it's time to move on.

I would love to stay here but when you're also trying to give yourself an opportunity as a player, you just kind of accept it for what it is.

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Gallagher has been with the team for 14 years and is a lineup staple who has a devoted fanbase in Montreal, but with him getting a bit older and still wanting to be impactful; a new home could be the best option for him regardless of if Montreal are now perennial contenders.

The Maple Leafs have the perfect opening for Gallagher thanks to one unfortunate injury

If he's not playing but still part of the team, it's the same cycle he's stuck in this year. So in him wanting to still contribute even as a supporting member somewhere else shows that being on the ice is the main goal, with winning just the bonus.

Which is why the Maple Leafs should see if Gallagher's available. He's only got one season left at $6.5-million so it's not a long-term commitment and Toronto will have both the cap space and money available though not for unfortunate reasons.

Max Domi's surgery complications have effectively put his season on pause indefinitely and with evaluations taking place at the start of camp with no real timeline for a return (if he even does) then there's a clear hole needing to be filled.

Gallagher is exactly what Toronto needed Domi to be. He's not going to be a top-line star but he would fit perfectly on the third line as a scrappy, secondary scorer who is incredibly hard to play against.

He would be able to move up and down as well depending on the situation and also fills the locker room leader/mentor role that Domi holds. Gallagher is also someone who has been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows throughout his time in Montreal so he can guide the rookies through that journey as they settle into the NHL.

Plus, it's not like he's going to cost a fortune and perhaps a third or fourth-round pick would be enough to pry Gallagher out of Montreal.

The icing on the cake too is that Toronto is taking away one of the most beloved players from their biggest rival, just adding yet another layer into the ever-evolving clash between the two Original Six teams.

With Gallagher looking for a way out of town, and the Maple Leafs needing a replacement for Max Domi - the fit is right there. The only question now becomes: Can these two bitter enemies put ego aside to make a trade that benefits both sides?

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