Stu Cowan: Brendan Gallagher adjusting to new position with Canadiens

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Brendan Gallagher can actually relate to what Canadiens teammate Kirby Dach goes by means of now.

The Canadiens introduced Monday that Dach has “a big” lower-body damage that’s not short-term and that they have been nonetheless within the means of diagnosing simply how vital it’s.

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Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reported it could possibly be torn ACL and MCL ligaments in Dach’s proper knee. Dach was injured whereas being checked into the boards by Chicago defenceman Jarred Tinordi — the Canadiens’ first-round choose (twenty second total) on the 2010 NHL Draft — throughout the first interval of Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Blackhawks on the Bell Centre. If Dach did certainly tear each ligaments, his season could possibly be over after solely two video games.

“There’s nothing there,” Gallagher stated when requested concerning the legality of Tinordi’s hit. “It’s actually unlucky. It’s simply form of hockey.”

The AHL’s Laval Rocket additionally introduced Monday that ahead Emil Heineman, one of many Canadiens’ high prospects, is out indefinitely with an upper-body damage.

Gallagher missed 104 video games over the earlier 4 seasons due to accidents. Final season, he missed 45 video games after breaking his ankle twice because the Canadiens set an NHL file with 751 man-games misplaced to damage. Now they lose the 22-year-old Dach — one of many key gamers of their rebuilding course of.

After being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks, Dach set profession highs final season in targets, assists and factors with 14-24-38 totals in 58 video games earlier than struggling a season-ending knee damage.

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Gallagher had an opportunity to talk with Dach earlier than Monday’s apply.

“He was in right here,” Gallagher stated. “Like anybody, he was disenchanted. However he’s right here, he’s a part of the group and he’s doing his factor. He’ll be right here on daily basis.”

Gallagher added that it is going to be essential for Dach to remain across the group as a lot as potential.

“You begin to really feel remoted,” Gallagher stated about recovering from a long-term damage. “The nice factor is we’ve got quite a lot of dwelling video games. He’ll be round. It’s only a powerful factor to undergo if you really feel such as you’re by your self. Simply keep concerned as a lot as you’ll be able to and we’ll ensure that we’ll assist him with that.”

At age 31, Gallagher is attempting to get his profession again on monitor after an extended record of accidents. He was on tempo for a 3rd straight 30-goal season in 2019-20 with 15 targets in 40 video games earlier than struggling a concussion, ending his streak of 229 consecutive video games performed.

Gallagher had no factors within the first two video games this season and his 10:10 of ice time towards the Blackhawks Saturday was the second-lowest on the group after Dach, who performed 4:40 earlier than getting harm.

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“We took (seven minor penalties) and I don’t kill penalties,” Gallagher stated. “Simply a kind of video games. Hopefully subsequent recreation there’s a bit of bit extra circulate and you are feeling a bit of bit extra concerned.”

Gallagher stated he’s nonetheless adjusting to a distinct position on the group after being a first-line winger for a number of seasons with Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar as linemates. Gallagher stated he has had “actually good dialogue” with head coach Martin St. Louis about the place he matches on the group.

“The extra inside competitors you have got the higher group you’re going to have in the long run,” Gallagher stated. “You all the time wish to discover a line that sticks, however you additionally wish to be a man that they will plug and put in several conditions.”

If Gallagher can’t regain a few of his earlier kind and rating no less than 20 targets, his contract will weigh closely on the wage cap and is one thing Canadiens followers will frequently deal with. Gallagher has scored 29 targets mixed over the earlier three seasons whereas coping with accidents.

“I’ve actually by no means been one to play with a chip on my shoulder,” Gallagher stated when requested if he seems like he has one thing to show this season. “It’s not who I’m. I really feel internally I’ve all the time had quite a lot of perception in myself and the help system I’ve again dwelling. I’m engaged, so with (fiancée) Emma and my household again dwelling there’s sufficient folks that supported you and believed in you alongside the way in which. I simply really feel assured that if I’m in a position to keep wholesome — I really feel nice — all through the course of the season all the pieces will return to what I’m used to doing on this league.

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“I’m snug the place I’m, snug with the scenario,” he added. “However I’ve by no means gone out with an actual chip on my shoulder or something like that. I play the sport for a similar causes: I like hockey and I like enjoying for my teammates and that’s simply form of the way in which I’m going about it.”

A part of Gallagher’s focus now will likely be on serving to Dach.

“It’s irritating,” he stated about Dach’s damage. “I’ve been by means of that sufficient in my profession that it’s by no means straightforward. So that you attempt to assist him out, simply make him really feel part of the group as a lot as you’ll be able to.”

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