NHL News: Habs Brendan Gallagher close to return, and Avs sign Kurtis MacDermid to extension
Anthony Scultore
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The Montreal Canadiens are hoping to have Brendan Gallagher back in the lineup as soon as Tuesday.
“I hope so. I feel good to go,” Gallagher said via NHL.com. “Haven’t talked to the medical guys. Obviously, there’s steps you got to go through but I’m expecting to play, yes.”
On March 25, the Habs announced that Gallagher would miss at least one week with a lower-body injury.
Gallagher, 29, has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 43 games this season.
He has 371 points (192 goals, 179 assists) in 625 career games with Montreal. He was selected by the Canadiens in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft.
Avs extend Kurtis MacDermid
The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Kurtis MacDermid on Tuesday to a two-year contract extension through the 2023-24 season.
The team did not disclose the financial details, but multiple outlets said it was worth just under $1 million per season.
MacDermid, 28, has skated in a career-high 53 games this season and is third on the Avalanche and second among the team’s defensemen with 96 hits. He has two goals and three assists.
“Kurtis has done everything we’ve asked of him this season. He brings toughness and versatility to our lineup, playing both forward and defense, sometimes both in the same game,” Colorado general manager Joe Sakic said in a news release. “He’s a great teammate and well respected in our locker room. We’re excited to have him under contract for two more years.”
Acquired by the Avalanche in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on July 27, 2021, MacDermid has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 171 career contests with the Los Angeles Kings (2017-21) and Colorado.
–Field Level Media contributed to this article.