Brendan Gallagher isn’t wasting any time defining what he wants to be for the Vancouver Canucks.
After the Montreal Canadiens moved him early in the offseason, the longtime No. 11 has now spoken publicly about the trade, and his message points straight back to what he learned in Montreal.
In an interview with Kevin Woodley, Gallagher said he wants to be a steadying presence for younger players and help them understand what it takes to be a pro.
"I hope there's some young players I can help out, help expedite their development in certain areas of what being a pro is all about. One of the most important things we did (in Montreal) that sometimes gets overlooked, obviously you add good players, but in terms of culture, we created a really good culture and that comes from your darkest days and having guys that want to be around and are committed to the process. Any organization, whether sport or anything, is nothing without culture, and first and foremost that will be the focus, and I think that's something I can help with."
That was the core of Gallagher’s point: culture matters, and it matters a lot. He made clear that the habits and standards built during his years with the Canadiens - including the hard seasons before the team’s recent turnaround - shaped how he sees leadership now.
For Gallagher, this is more than a talking point. It’s the kind of perspective that comes from living through the grind and understanding how a room gets built from the inside out.
Canadiens fans, meanwhile, will be watching to see how he fits in with the Canucks’ young players.
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