Montreal Canadiens: Gallagher Still Has Some Gas in the Tank

Brendan Gallagher has had a rough couple of years, marred by injuries and long stretches of inconsistent play. At this point, it seems fair to say the longest tenured Canadiens player (Carey Price not included) is not the player he once was, with the wear and tear on his body certainly contributing to that. But don’t count him out just yet.

The last two games have shown Gallagher still has the drive Canadiens fans have become accustomed to, scoring a vintage Gallagher goal in each of them. The Canadiens are certainly hoping that Gallagher can continue that. Perhaps that’s wishful thinking, but some vintage performances every now and then wouldn’t hurt.

Look, Gallagher is not going to light the lamp 30 times this year like he has in the past. He’s slower, and his role has decreased over the years. And injuries can still occur that keep him from playing at the top of his game, too. But perhaps it’s a little early to pull the plug on his career just yet. We knew Gallagher wasn’t going to go down that easy. He never has before.

The Canadiens are handling Gallagher well, playing him alongside two veterans in Sean Monahan and Tanner Pearson, who are off to hot starts of their own this year. And Gallagher is playing just 11 minutes a night, which should keep him fresher for longer. Gone are the days of him playing 16+ minutes a night.

And that’s honestly the best thing for him, especially if it can help him deliver more performances like the one we saw Monday night versus Buffalo. Gallagher notched the game-winning goal early in the third period before assisting on Pearson’s insurance marker late. It was a gutsy performance from a veteran and team leader to help secure a tough divisional win.

And it was a reminder of why Gallagher is where he is in the first place. He’s undersized, but even into his thirties, after all the injuries and struggles, you’d still be hard-pressed to find many players working harder than him.

I was there in person, to see that grit and determination on Monday, a great reminder as to why he’s so beloved in Montreal and why he wears an A on his jersey. Gallagher may not be the player he once was, but he still has some juice left. Don’t write him off just yet.

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