One thing is for certain when it comes to Brendan Gallagher, the word resiliency is synonymous with his name. Such has been the case since he was drafted. The undersized forward is the heartbeat of the Canadiens, and his uncanny ability to drag the troops into battle on a nightly basis doesn’t go unnoticed.
Selected out of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants organization as the 147th overall selection in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, Gallagher’s hard work has earned him an NHL role. While he has fallen unlucky with injuries; due to his play style, he is the kind of player you hate to play against, but love to play alongside. His never give up attitude endears him to teammates and fans alike, and he is certainly a role model for all players trying to find their way to the pros.
Resiliency; A Characteristic For The Young Canadiens To Emulate
Hockey can be a very frustrating sport at times; as we all know, it isn’t simply fun and winning all the time. Such is especially true for the Canadiens, as they are in the thick of a rebuild, and generally speaking, wins come less than losses, which can be frustrating. But having a player like Gallagher work himself to the bone every shift is something that the young guys can learn from.
The nature of the sport dictates that not every night is going to be fun, nor will it result in a win. But learning to compete no matter what, and show up for the crest on the front of the jersey, rather than the name on the back sets a culture in place. Never giving up or giving the opposing team an easy battle shows that while the team is still developing, they are not to be taken lightly.
Injuries are unavoidable, and playing a style like Gallagher does come with penalties and sometimes the calls don’t go your way. But the impact that he has on a game cannot be understated. He is always in the dirty areas, and never backs down from even the biggest opponents, making the opposing goaltender’s life difficult and forcing the defenseman to take penalties.
Gallagher is a team player through and through, and passing along that trait to the next generation could instill a great culture throughout the Habs’ rebuilding lineup.
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