Brendan Gallagher is signed for four more seasons at 6.5 million per year. This contract is a typical example of Marc Bergevin's emotional negotiation, as he gave him this money for services rendered and not in anticipation of the future. Simply put, to be profitable, Gallagher would have to thread the needle at least 25 to 30 times a season. Yet he has only scored 15 goals in the last two campaigns. Even when healthy, Gally struggles to regain his scoring touch. This is where the question of a contract buyout comes into play. Kent Hughes will have plenty of room under the salary cap in the next few years, and he'll be able to afford such a move. The emergence of young players, pushing towards the NHL, could force him to make such a decision. In fact, columnist Samuel Doiron has done some research into how much it would cost to buy back number 11 next year, and the price isn't too high - in fact, it would be a godsend for the CH. <q> 0.3 million in 2024 2.16 million in 2025 4.66 million in 2026 2.16 million in 2027-28-29</q> Basically, Hughes would save a lot of money in Gallagher's three remaining contract years, and it would cost him $2.16 million for three more years, which is pretty good under the circumstances. We love Brendan Gallagher, myself included, but if he doesn't have a season that lives up to expectations this year, or is sidelined for an extended period once again, a decision will have to be made. Hockey is first and foremost a business, and that's how it works. I'm confident that Gally will be able to make a strong comeback, especially after several months of recovering. He can regain his touch around the net, but it's imperative that he stays in the line-up and stays injury-free. Credit: HF