Brendan Gallagher is off to a fairly successful start to the season with eight goals, despite limited playing time. He currently ranks eighth among Montreal Canadiens forwards in terms of usage.
At five-on-five, he plays in the third unit alongside Josh Anderson and Christian Dvorak, while, on the power play, he is used on the second wave.
His role seems well established in the mind of Martin St-Louis, because it has remained unchanged since the start of the campaign. However, given his performances, a promotion could be considered to reward the 32-year-old veteran. Not only would this recognition be deserved, but it could also have a positive impact on the play of some of his teammates.
During an episode of L’Antichambre, Gaston Therrien expressed his wish to see the little number 11 join the first trio in place of Kirby Dach.
“He plays on the third line, he plays on the second power play, and he never gets rewarded. I would like to see him with Suzuki and Slafkovsky on the right side, because I think he could bring energy. […] Suzuki and Slafkovsky are less involved. If Gallagher went to the corners of the ice and in front of the net, maybe it would give them a second wind. He’s a guy who would pull them up, not down, because he’s constantly working. » – Gaston Therrien
On paper, this combination seems interesting. Gallagher is not only capable of producing offensively, he also embodies an energy player. Every presence on the ice is delivered at 110%, and this intensity is contagious. We can already see this with Dvorak and Anderson who, before being paired with the Albertan, lacked commitment to their game.
To see if St-Louis will test this combination in future matches.
Canada
