The Importance That Brendan Gallagher Has To The Habs

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher is nearing the end of his NHL career as he is far from being as effective on the ice as he was just even a year ago, but there is no denying that he is still very important to the success of the Habs. This became evident during Game 5 of their playoff series as he was a much-needed spark plug that made things happen nearly every time he hit the ice. This included opening the scoring in the most typical Gallagher way by driving his way to the net to bury a rebound. He only played 6:48 in Game 5, but those minutes were enough to make everyone around him better, which is why he is still so important to the team.

Brenda Gallagher this postseason:

1 shift
1 goal

His 14th career playoff goal. pic.twitter.com/wCDQpOnR1S

— William Dubé (@williamdube_) April 29, 2026

After not playing since the final game of the regular season on April 14th against the Philadelphia Flyers, Gallagher made his playoff series debut after 15 days in between games. While most players may come into a series a little rusty after that much time off, this may actually be something that benefits Gallagher’s game at this point in his career. Gallagher plays like every game is a Stanley Cup Final matchup, which is likely why his body has struggled to keep up with the way he plays this season, as his body can’t handle all the wear and tear it goes through every few nights anymore.

This is why playing every game will slow him down over time, but letting him rest a few days between a couple of games that he plays could be more effective for longer. It seems now whenever he does get into the lineup, he is a much more effective player. Just like in Game 5, Gallagher also scored in the final regular-season game after not playing for 9 days prior, showing that the rest will allow the Habs to get the best from him.

#Habs Zachary Bolduc on Brendan Gallagher

“Gally’s been in the league and with the Montreal Canadiens for so many years, so it’s fun to have him around. He’s been good, even if he hasn’t had the opportunity to play yet. He’s been talking a lot with us younger guys, telling us… pic.twitter.com/vNFPzI8Xi7

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) April 29, 2026

When he isn’t playing, he also offers his advice to his teammates on what he sees and how they can improve their game, which is part of his role on the Habs. He is a leader on and off the ice who can really help his teammates when they need a boost or just advice on how to approach a situation. This is why the Canadiens need to keep Gallagher around even next season when it’s likely that he won’t be able to play despite having an inflated $6.5 million salary in the final year of his contract. He may only play 35-40 games at the very best, but it will allow the Canadiens to get the best out of Gallagher while he is still under contract for another season.

What impact did Brendan Gallagher have in Game 5? Kenzie Lalonde (@KenzieTSN) joins @JayOnrait to discuss. pic.twitter.com/heC15uWzQB

— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) April 30, 2026

Chances are he will be the most expensive 13th forward in the NHL next year, but he will also help the Canadiens be a better team just by being there to help his teammates whether he is in the lineup or not. The only issue is that now that his body takes longer to recover in his mid-30s, Gallagher likely won’t be able to play more than 3 or 4 games straight even with limited minutes without eventually starting to slow down and being less effective. He will also not be able to play back-to-back nights anymore, but he will still be able to help others improve their games from the press box by giving his teammates advice.

Brendan Gallagher has slowed down a lot.

His 100% might not be good enough sometimes, but one thing’s for sure, you’re gonna get his 100% every time he’s on the ice.

Leader by example.

— William Dubé (@williamdube_) April 30, 2026

Now with the Canadiens in the middle of a tough series and him having only played limited minutes in Game 5, he will likely be important again to the Habs in Game 6. At the very least he should be able to give a good 8-9 minutes in front of the home crowd on Friday night and maybe even score for a 3rd straight game. Nonetheless, even if he plays a limited role, he should play a big role as a team leader.

Do you still believe that Gallagher is an important player for the Habs’ success?