When the Montreal Canadiens selected Brendan Gallagher in the 5th round of the 2010 NHL Draft, I don’t think they imagined he would turn into the player he has become.
Gallagher has been through the wringer with injuries in recent years, but he eclipsed the 30-goal mark on two separate occasions. While he hasn’t surpassed the 22-goal mark since 2019-20, he also hasn’t played a full 82 games since 2018-19. Given his in-your-face, get-in-the-opposing goaltender’s face style, odds were that he would pay the price for it.
So, while he hasn’t been healthy for a full season if anybody could be bet against to come and play, it’s Gallagher. And maybe that doesn’t translate to 30 goals. But in a third-line role, with consistent minutes and linemates, I think he could still remain productive.
The 31-year-old will play his 12th season in 2023-24, all of which have come with the Canadiens. If he can remain healthy, his effectiveness goes beyond production, as he excels in the dirty areas. Creating space for his teammates and havoc in front of the opposing goaltender will undoubtedly carry into the upcoming season.
While I like to make predictions, I also like to be reasonable, in the interest of keeping things in perspective. His hands are beaten and battered from his net front battles, so the velocity on his shots or zip on his passes won’t be the same as they once were. However, his nose for the net and playmaking skills should translate to decent production.
With that said, I think 15-20 goals and roughly around the same amount of assists could be a real possibility. With some youth looking to invigorate the Habs lineup, there’s a good chance that a younger guy could join Gallagher’s line. I think a line could look like Slafkovsky-Dvorak-Gallagher, while Dvorak isn’t much of an offensive player, he is good at defending, which leaves space for Gally and Slaf to operate in the offensive zone.
Health is a big question mark for Gallagher, but if he can stay in the lineup, he will certainly help the Habs in one way or the other. His infectious attitude is sure to drag his line through the trenches, even during the toughest situations. If healthy, the things that Gallagher can provide for his teammates go far beyond scoring goals and producing points.
Here’s to a healthy, strong resurgent season for the heartbeat of the Canadiens, as only good can come from having such a great presence in the lineup.