Brendan Gallagher
| Birthday: 1992-06-05 | Position: RW |
| Eligible for draft: 2010 | Shoots: Right |
| Drafted: 2010 | Height: 5-8 |
| Acquired: 5th round (147th overall), 2010 | Weight: 175 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- B
History
2008-09: Brendan Gallagher, a ninth round selection by the Vancouver Giants at the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, played in 52 games for the Giants. He scored 10 goals and added 21 assists for 31 points while posting a +26 rating and 61 penalty minutes. In 16 playoff games for the Giants, he scored 1 goal and added 2 assists for 3 points.
2009-10: In 72 games for the Giants, Gallagher scored 41 goals and added 40 assists for 81 points, placing him 16th overall in WHL scoring. He racked up 111 penalty minutes on the season. In 16 playoff games for the Giants, Gallagher scored 11 goals and added 10 assists for 21 points.
2010-11: Gallagher was the leading scorer for the Vancouver Giants in his third WHL season as the Giants finished second in the British Columbia Division. Gallagher scored 44 goals with 47 assists and was a team-best +30 plus/minus. Gallagher's offensive numbers were matched by his physical play – his 108 PMs were second-most on the team behind defenseman Wesley Vannieuwenhuizen. The Giants proved no match for United States Division foe Tri-City in the WHL playoffs and Gallagher finished with 2 goals and 16 PMs with an even plus/minus in the four-game series.
2011-12: Gallagher had an outstanding year starting with the Canadiens' training camp, playing in NHL pre-season games and for Team Canada at the 2012 World Junior championship. The little ball of energy also signed an NHL entry level contract with the Canadiens and finished the season as the all-time franchise leader with the most goals and points in the Vancouver Giants history. He scored 41 goals (14 on the power play) along with 36 assists and a solid plus 19 rating in only 54 WHL games this year. Gallagher and his Vancouver team lost a hard fought, physical first round series 4-2, in the 2012 WHL playoffs against the Spokane Chiefs. The feisty Giants' captain battle all over the ice and around the Chiefs net but still lost the series despite scoring five goals along five assists and an even rating while taking 14 PIMs in six playoffs games.
2012-13: Gallagher made his NHL debut as a 20-year-old following the lockout and was the fourth-leading rookie scorer in his first pro season. After skating for Montreal's AHL affiliate in Hamilton during the lockout, he scored 15 goals with 13 assists and was +10 with 33 penalty minutes in 44 games with the Canadiens. Gallagher scored 2 goals and was -7 with 5 penalty minutes in the five-game playoff series with Ottawa. In 36 AHL games with the Bulldogs he scored 10 goals with 10 assists and had an even plus/minus with 61 penalty minutes.
Talent Analysis
Gallagher has an excellent work ethic, grit, really good hands and a very quick, accurate release on his shot. The small physical winger doesn't need a lot of time or space to strike offensively and will take advantage of the smallest of chances. Although he has improved on his skating speed and added more muscle mass, the undersized forward will still need to increase both in order to play his style of game in the dirty areas around the net at the professional level.
Future
Gallagher has made the jump to the NHL level and barring some injury, should compete for a top line position out of training camp this year. He will need to be ready to absorb even more punishment as the NHL defensemen now know his tendencies to drive the net. The little spark plug should be able to avoid the sophomore jinx with his never quit attitude and projects as a top-six forward in the NHL.
