Canucks Sign Gallagher – Toughness Plus Leadership

So the long anticipated wait is finally over for Delta’s Brendan Gallagher (34) who returns home after a long and illustrious career with the Montreal Canadiens who managed to put up impressive numbers.

First let’s welcome him back home despite all the naysayers who at age many think is “overage” – lord ask what they would think about me being the young age I’m at, but it’s only a number.

Well some think it was a waste of money let’s remember that the Canadiens retained half of his salary with a year remaining which will be extremely helpful to the Canucks organization who themselves are on a rebuild.

Reflecting back we should remember he played an aggressive game when he was with the Giants in a role that he was passionate about playing from the time he first signed.

Giants’ forward Brendan Gallagher signed a 3-year entry level contract with the Montreal Canadiens and was selected in the 5th round, 147th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

The 19 year old made quite an impression at this year’s training camp, picking up one assist in 5 exhibition games with the Habs during the 2011 pre-season.

“First and foremost I would like to thank the Montreal Canadiens for taking a chance on me and believing in me,” said Brendan Gallagher. “I’m very excited to sign my first pro contract, which puts me one step closer to realizing my dream of playing in the NHL.

This would not have happened without the support of my family, my many teammates over the years, the coaching staff in Vancouver led by Don Hay, and the rest of the Giants organization.”

Gallagher, who was taken in the 9th round, 195th overall in the 2007 WHL Bantam draft by the Vancouver Giants, has gone on to become one of the most proficient offensive players in franchise history.

Coming off back to back 40+ goal seasons, he is currently in his 4th season with the Giants organization and has 18 goals, 13 assists, and 31 points in 18 games.

He is on pace to become the all-time franchise leader in goals, assists, and points and could very well top the single season mark for goals (48) in a season.”

In addition to playing minor hockey in South Delta he is also a graduate of the SDSS Hockey Academy.

His first try to make Team Canada wasn’t exactly what he wanted, the second camp was even better.

He has been named to Team Canada for the 2012 World Junior Championships. “He worked really hard to get where he is,” said Scott Bonner, General Manager of the Vancouver Giants, the junior hockey team Gallagher plays for.

The Vancouver Giants and the SDSS Hockey Academy have very close ties, working in conjunction with one another.

After an extended career in Montreal he returns home to play in front of his “home town” fans who you ask and they’ll tell you that he’s somewhat like a Kenny Linesman who became one of the leagues most aggressive agitators  during his 14-year career managing an impressive 807 points in 860 NHL games with Boston, Edmonton, Philadelphia and Toronto.

It was a tough season for Gallagher as well. Although the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final dropping to Carolina in five games. 

He played only three games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, games 5-7 in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning and finished the season with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 77 regular-season games and one goal in three postseason games.  

He told the media “It was maybe the worst-kept secret that this was kind of what I hoped for, both myself as a professional but also my family with this is a best-case scenario, obviously.” 

He has one season remaining on a six-year, $39 million contract ($6.5 million average annual value) that he signed with Montreal on Oct. 14, 2020, and can become an unrestricted free agent after next season. 

Johnson mentioned “Brendan is a quality individual and a very good hockey player and we love the way he competes and leads by example.”

I asked a couple of friends how they would describe him and my buddy was quick to respond that they would call him a warrior. 

Bringing in veterans like Brendan will help us set the standard for our younger guys to follow. We are excited to add someone who has ties to the Lower Mainland, wants to be here with the Canucks, and knows firsthand how passionate and knowledgeable our hockey market is in Vancouver. This is an important acquisition for our hockey club.”

Gallagher will add not only toughness to the Canucks but also play a leadership role being able to control the dressing room to become one of the older players that the rookies will look up to.

Moving forward he’ll be wearing #7 and Sportswave wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career and welcome him back to Delta!!