The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Brendan Gallagher to a three-year entry level contract.
Financial terms of the deal were not announced. The deal begins with the 2012-13 season.
The rising star ranks first on the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants and seventh in the league with 31 points through 18 games this season. He leads the Giants and is fifth in the WHL for goals with 18 and ranks second in the league for powerplay goals with eight.
A native of Edmonton, Alberta, the 19-year-old Gallagher has recorded 113 goals and 121 assists in 208 games since his junior debut with Vancouver.
Drafted in the fifth round, 147th overall, by the Canadiens at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Gallagher took part in his second training camp with the Canadiens in 2011. He played in five preseason games and recorded one assist, 14 shots on goal and four penalty minutes.
