“He always brings it,” head coach Martin St. Louis says about veteran winger. “Even in practice he brings it. To me, that’s contagious.”
Brendan Gallagher is the longest-serving member of the Canadiens, now in his 13th season with the team.
“They liked it,” Gallagher told reporters in Columbus after the game with a smile. “The guys are supportive any time that stuff happens, especially when it’s a guy that doesn’t do it all that often. I appreciate their support.”
Gallagher doesn’t fight often and said with a grin: “There’s a reason for it.”
“He always brings it,” Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said about Gallagher after a recent practice. “Even in practice, he brings it. To me, that’s contagious. I think he leads by example a lot. But you can’t do that without having a good attitude. So Gally’s got a great attitude and I think he’s having fun out there again.”
“It’s never lost on me how fortunate I am to be in this organization, how well I’ve been treated by the organization, from the top down,” Gallagher said after a recent practice. “The fans — and it extends to my family as well. I love playing here, I love the city. There’s a long way to go, so it’s not a time to reminisce just yet. But I’m very fortunate.”
Gallagher said he would love to finish his career with the Canadiens.
“For me, it’s just every single year, whether it was my first year and now it’s my 13th year, I just try to be a good player that year,” he said. “Try to earn your spot and show that you have some value — and it hasn’t changed. I’m not looking that far down the road.”
Gallagher was asked if he tries to explain to his younger teammates what the Canadiens mean to the city, the community and the passionate fans.
“I think back when I was young, guys explained it to me,” he said. “But it’s one of those things that you have to go through and you have to live. I think as you experience it you really have an understanding. Certainly you have an awareness when you come in the Montreal Canadiens locker room, the history and the tradition. But to truly understand the fans’ passion, it’s just something you have to live through and experience yourself.”
Is he maybe listening to his wife now?
“She has a lot of say, but when it comes to hockey I think she knows not to over step,” he said with a smile.
I asked Gallagher last week if he could go back in time and speak to his 20-year-old self with the knowledge he has now what’s the best advice he would have.
“I don’t know … I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll think about that. Ask me in a couple of days. I’m trying to think.”
A couple of days later I asked Gallagher the question again.
“Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything,” he said.
He then added with a laugh: “Maybe shut up more.”