Even in his reduced role, Brendan Gallagher is still the heart and soul of the Montreal Canadiens. When the Canadiens made the surprising decision to healthy scratch Gallagher for the first time in his career against the San Jose Sharks, the move drew plenty of criticism. The last thing you want to do is damage the locker room by sitting one of the team’s leaders, but it may have been the right choice when you look at the bigger picture. The two-time 30-goal scorer has been an integral part of the Canadiens lineup for nearly 15 years, and while he may not be the same player he once was, his gritty, never-give-up attitude will be crucial if the team wants to build off of last year's playoff appearance.
Gallagher’s rise to the NHL
The 2010 fifth-round pick has been an underdog his entire career. He was told he was not big enough to make the NHL, but he was not going to let his size stop him from achieving his dreams. The 5’9” Gallagher dominated at the junior level, scoring 40-plus goals in three consecutive seasons with the Vancouver Giants in the WHL. While some may have doubted whether he could replicate the success he found in junior in the NHL, it did not take long for him to prove his doubters wrong.
After the conclusion of his junior career, you would normally expect a former fifth-round pick to continue their development in the AHL before they get a chance at the NHL, and while Gallagher started his professional career with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL, it was not because he was not ready. The 2012-13 NHL season did not start until January because of a lockout due to the expiration of the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA). That is why Gallagher spent the first half of the season in the AHL, but as soon as the NHL agreed to the new CBA, he was immediately called up. He appeared in 44 out of the 48 games that season, finishing second for the Calder Memorial Trophy and has been a staple in the Canadiens lineup ever since.
Gallagher understands his role on this iteration of the Canadiens
14 years and 910 games later (as of writing this), Gallagher is still an integral part of the Canadiens roster, albeit in a different role. For years, Gallagher was a mainstay in Montreal’s top six. He is a five-time 20-goal scorer, eclipsing 30 goals twice, but on this iteration of the Canadiens, he has found peace in his new role. Montreal has arguably more talent than at any other point in Gallagher’s 14-year career, and is not asked to be the consistent goal scorer that he once was for the franchise. While it may have been difficult for some to move into a more diminished role, Gallagher has always been a team-first type of player.
Following his second healthy scratch of the season against the Florida Panthers, Gallagher was asked how he felt about the situation and had this to say: “I’m comfortable with what I bring to this group. If my number is called, I know I contribute. If not, you be a good teammate, that’s it. I’m grateful for the amount of time I’ve had in this city and I’m really fortunate for it.” The way Gallagher has handled himself throughout this situation just proves why he is crucial for the Canadiens' success in the playoffs this season.
The playoffs have their ups and downs, and the Canadiens will need not only Gallagher’s leadership but also his gritty, never-give-up attitude. He is one of the few players on the Canadiens’ young roster who has experienced a deep playoff run before. Gallagher is one of the few players remaining from the 2020-21 team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals. He is also the last player remaining from the team that went to the Eastern Conference Final in the 2013-14 season. He knows what it takes to get far in the playoffs and the battles you will have to go through to get to the Stanley Cup Finals. It is no secret that Gallagher is not the same player he once was, but the extra rest will only help him be at his best when the playoffs start.