In a season in which the Montreal Canadiens are contending for the dubious title of worst team in franchise history, Brendan Gallagher has been a rare bright spot. Gallagher has now scored 30 goals, a career high. He leads the team in terms of production and effort. He serves as an example to several young players in Montreal. While Max Pacioretty may be the named captain of the team, there’s no question that the “25-year-old spark plug is its thumping heartbeat.”
Good on a Bad Team
The Canadiens started the season with a 1-6-1 record, matching their worst eight-game start in 76 years. It never got better. They have been shut out 12 times this season, the most in franchise history. The team allowed 26 shots in one period this month, again the most in franchise history. They have lost 24 road games in regulation, another franchise record. In a league where scoring is at a premium, the team’s scoring differential is abysmal.
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Gallagher has managed to persevere this season despite that the Canadiens lack talent at center and mobility on the blue line. Drafted 147th overall in 2010, he was often seen as too small to succeed in the NHL. With a career-high 49 points this season and five games to go, he has proven everyone wrong. This year he has managed to add some sweet goals to his highlight reel.
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Rebounding from Injury
Last season was Gallagher’s worst since his rookie campaign. His meager 29 points after three consecutive seasons of 40 or more points can largely be explained by the two slap shots he took to his hand in just over a year. The first from Johnny Boychuk in November 2015 broke two fingers on his left hand and kept him out for 17 games. The second, from teammate Shea Weber in January of 2017, fractured his left hand and kept him out of the lineup for nearly 8 weeks.
Shattering fingers in his left hand in consecutive seasons required three plates and over 30 screws to repair the damage. It also meant he had to change how he held his stick. When asked about his hands Gallagher said, “…they’re different but I’ve learned to adjust.” Rebounding from injury is never easy but he put the time in and brought renewed energy to the team this year.
Leading by Example
It has been painful listening to Montreal Canadiens games on the radio this year. Sergio Momesso, the Habs’ color commentator for TSN Radio 690, has regularly called out specific players for a lack of effort and grit.
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Gallagher never comes in for criticism, no small feat. As a veteran, at 25, he is one of the few Habs that have not been traded or otherwise released since 2015. He has seen the team at its recent best and this season at its worst. But he made the most of his chance to get back to his pesky, persistent, and productive ways and emerged as an exemplary leader.
Heart and Soul
Referring to Gallagher as the heart and soul of the Canadiens, Stu Cowan wrote that even in a lost season, the Habs can count on three things:
Brendan Gallagher will give 100-percent effort on every shift; Gallagher will get whacked like a piñata in front of the opposing net and get up smiling, ready for more; and Gallagher will be in the locker room after the game to face the media — win or lose.
Gallagher somehow manages to keep his sense of humor while staying humble. For example, when asked about his 29th and 30th goals, Gallagher looked away and said, “I don’t really like talking about it,” and “I’m just happy to get it out of the way.” When pressed, he described them this way:
Those are the easy goals for me. Most of my goals are on deflections in front or by battling in the crease. They may not seem easy but they’re easier for me than trying to beat a goalie with my shot.
Captain in Waiting?
If Pacioretty is traded over the summer, the Canadiens need to make a choice about who should be the next captain. While Weber has to be in the conversation, Gallagher should be considered the Habs’ captain in waiting. He is a 5-year veteran of the team, the leading scorer, and most importantly, brings top effort to every game and during every shift.
Related: Brendan Gallagher: Canadiens Captain in Waiting
The example he sets is especially important for his younger teammates. “I think he’s a true leader,” said 22-year-old Nikita Scherbak. “He’s the player who’s going to show up every game, so I’m trying to learn as much as possible from him.”
Cowan recently concluded: “Gallagher should be the Canadiens’ next captain, and not just because he speaks with the media. He leads by example and as a result, his voice is respected in the locker room.”