Brendan Gallagher deserves another playoff run

If there is a player on the Montreal Canadiens more deserving of another playoff run than Brendan Gallagher, I can't identify the player.

No. 11 exudes what it means to be a Canadien, and through the years he has adapted, and made himself an impact player for the Habs. Drafted in 2010, out of the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants program, Gallagher made his debut with the Canadiens during the 2012-13 season.

Montreal's top scorer during the 2012-13 season was Max Pacioretty with 15-24-39 in 44 games. Gallagher finished his rookie season with 15-13-28 in 44 games, good for sole possession of sixth place on the Canadiens scoring list. P.K Subban, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Markov and Lars Eller occupied two through five.

Only two of the five players are still actively playing.

Eller is still playing in the league, and has had success since he departed from Montreal after the 2015-16 season. The Dane won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2017-18, after he had a personal best regular season (18-20-38 in 81 games).

Pacioretty, who has massively impacted the Canadiens, has struggled to stay healthy since leaving Montreal via trade. The American sniper has played for four different clubs over the last seven seasons. Of those seven seasons, the most games he has played is 71 in 2019-20, in the five seasons since he has failed to play more than 48 games.

Now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pacioretty, who left for Carolina, the same year the Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup, is on pace to play 55 games. Seven better than his highest season since leaving Montreal.

Gallagher is still gunning for his first Stanley Cup ring, and the Albertan is only going to attempt to do that with the Habs. He has certainly had his fair share of injuries, but he wouldn't be the player he is, if he didn't engage in the legendary netfront battles that have endeared him to Canadiens fans.

Though he is five-foot-nine, 183 pounds, he is all of that, and will run through a wall. How many guys can say they went toe-to-toe with Zdeno Chara, giving up close to 100-pounds and a foot in height. Still, Gallagher engaged in heated exchanges with the longtime Boston Bruins captain.

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk have made millions off their hardwork, and pest-like games, and Gallagher is certainly a pioneer of that style for many guys that grew up watching Montreal through the early 2010's. The Tkachuk's grew up in St. Louis, but their Dad Keith brought them everywhere, so they had an appreciation unlike few others can of the NHL at young ages.

I can feel assured that watching the way the small, but feisty forward plays has endeared him to many young players. He sets an example for young guys, and he leads by example, doing all the not so glamourous things to win. Gallagher is the exact player that I want on my team in the playoffs, because you know he will go head-first into any, and every battle if he is on the ice.

No.11 has carved a career in Montreal as a hardworking, in-your-face forward, who has some skill that looks dramatically better because of his high motor. Gallagher is intense, and hasn't played at 100% for most of his career. Shea Weber, and Carey Price set a standard, but it wasn't without it's costs - both are obviously finished their playing careers.

Neither won a Stanley Cup, but the toughness, preparation and leadership was passed down, and absorbed by Gallagher. And now, he has brushed off on Habs captain Nick Suzuki, who is as fierce a competitor as the league boasts.

Watch the Habs squeeze in, and suddenly teams are watching - they did something special in 2021, but couldn't quite finish the job.

Bring me playoff Gally

I'm not sure if I'm convinced that the Canadiens are capable of doing a whole lot in the playoffs, mostly because they can play well, and then flip the switch off some nights.

Montreal needs to first qualify for the playoffs, but incomplete efforts, and undisciplined play is going to be the teams undoing. Wednesday night was a disastrous game, that ultimately ended in a loss, due to Martin St. Louis's aggressive coaching.

Lane Hutson, Nick Suzuki and Christian Dvorak were lined up like three forwards, and Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour took advantage of that.

Montour caught Hutson flatfooted, and before Hutson could react he was already three strides ahead. It was a learning lesson for Marty, but the aggressiveness sends a loud and clear message to the team.

Grabbing a wildcard position is the ultimate goal, but cleaning things up, and tightening up defensively along the way will be crucial. In the playoffs it's a different game, and team's will take advantage of any weakness.

Gallagher's in-your-face style will wear down opponents, and cause them to take penalties. He is the type of player who is going to run the opponent, and smile in their face right after. Gallagher just has a knack for getting under the oppositions skin, and he can take a beating, and dish it out.

No. 11's career playoff statistics: Gallagher has gone to the playoffs six times with the Canadiens, spanning 71 games - 13-18-31.

His best year are obviously behind him, but the 32-year-old is going to play the same way until he hangs up his skates. Until then, however, I think he is the kind of play that can play into his forties. if so, he could be around to see this rebuild's rewards.