Three Keys to a Brendan Gallagher Resurgence in 2022-2023

Most Montreal Canadiens had a very difficult 2021-2022 season, but not many struggled more than Brendan Gallagher. With just seven goals, Gallagher had what many would consider a down season.

Of course, with a player like Gallagher, a down year could be cause for greater concern. After all, Gallagher is the kind of player that’s unafraid to get physical, and is always taking a beating when entering the dirty areas. It’s why Habs fans love him, and everyone else can’t stand him.

That style of play takes a toll on the body though, hence the cause for concern. Some believe that this could just be the beginning of the end for Gallaghers career, and with Gallagher still in just the second year of his six-year, $39 million contract, it does raise a few alarm bells.

This is not an unfamiliar idea, as we have seen players entering their 30s witness their game become far less effective than it once was. Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson are just a few examples that come to mind. One minute they’re routinely scoring 30 goals and putting up 50-60 points, and the next they’re nothing more than a fourth liner.

That being said, I am not convinced that Gallagher has reached that stage of his career, at least not yet. However, in order for him to play at the level he and everyone else has come to expect, he does need a few things to go right for him. Last season, it seemed like nothing did.