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Weber Tells Us When He Will Return + Gallagher Deserves All The Credit

March 28, 2018, 7:08 PM ET [266 Comments]
Brandon Smillie
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
WEBER STATES RECOVERY IS FOR THE WEAK, WILL ONLY MISS 4 MONTHS

Shea Weber gave us all some good news the other day during a meeting with the media and advised that his timeline for recovery from surgery on a tendon(s?) in his fracture foot should only be 4 months. The initial timeline of recovery for this injury, at time of surgery, was 6 months so this is fantastic news heading into next season.




Weber should have 2 extra months of proper training heading into the 2018-2019 season, a season where he will be counted on to help this young team move in the right direction consistently. A season that could see Mete (will be 20), Juulsen (will be 21), and Reilly (will be 25) manning its blue line on a consistent basis.



As of today those 3 defensemen have a total of 166 NHL games played combined and appear poised to be very important to the Canadiens future. Weber will provide Montreal with a perfect example of how to be an NHL defenseman.

This could be a pretty big storyline next year should the Habs turn it around.







GALLAGER AND PRICE HUGE IN WIN AGAINST RED WINGS

The Canadiens played a fantastic stats game in their 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Habs limited Detroit to only 1 PP while converting on 2 of their 3 PP’s. The Habs out shot, out hit, and out played their opponent

Carey Price put up a fantastic .929 SP% in the win which must have felt like finally dropping an anchor he carried for his previous 7 games, all losses (0-5-2). Many have expressed they would rather see Price sit for the remainder of this season in an effort to maintain a better draft position, and to rest the net minder who has endured his own share of injuries this year.

Price decided that as a paid professional he wanted to play, regardless of situation of the team if he is healthy enough to do so. After the many accolades earned by Price in his lifetime playing hockey you can be sure there is a lot of pride and feelings of accountability to his teammates for the season he has been a big part of, whether on the ice or held off it.

As much as I want the best chance at 1st for the Canadiens I also like the idea that Price is already committing to working hard, acting as an example himself for the young players brought up to this pallet fire of a season. To gain Price back in games, practices, and the locker is a must at any point of any season, no matter how badly we all want a top 3 pick.





Brendan Gallagher is virtually everything you could ask for in a hockey player. He plays hard minutes and agitated everyone along the way who wasn’t wearing a CH. Gallagher had to earn respect the hard way in the league and at 25 years old he has not only found a way to dance all around “The Line” between clean and dirty play but he has earned the respect of the NHL ref community as well. Yes, Gallagher still gets a fair share of facewashes and shoves, but (mostly) gone are the days where he is punched in the mouth after every whistle if he’s standing near the crease.

This player has also likely earned himself a “C” in the near future, with the Canadiens or elsewhere, and not one person can argue that he wouldn’t deserve it.

He deserves it right now ffs.

As we enter the final 5 games of this miserable season Gallagher has played his heart out. With 13 points in the last 15 games he has led by example. Also, 9 of those 13 points are goals and show just how far Gallagher has come after almost being written off due to a couple broken hands.

His 2 goals against the Red Wings were each career highs at the moment they lit the lamp. The first of the game being his 29th and the second being his 30th, and the game winner. This is now Gallagher’s career high in goals and points (49 points). If not for everyone else on the team lacking any kind of finish Gallagher could have had substantially more than 19 assists at this moment. Some more Gallagher-like efforts from Brendan’s line mates could have seen him approach the 60 point plateau this season.

At 25 years old I think we still have about 8 or 9 more years of Brendan Gallagher as he plays today, or better.

I think we all may see the writing on the wall with regards to the future of the Montreal Canadiens captaincy. If Pacioretty is moved (and even if he isn’t, with all due respect to Max) the captain next season will be either Shea Weber or Brendan Gallagher.

I could see a GM like Bergevin wanting to put Weber in charge of the team, and it think his teammates would likely agree, but it would be very hard to not make Gallagher the captain with Weber as “The Hand” (“The Hound”?) with the “A”. Yes, that’s a Game Of Thrones reference.

A captain who plays the game as hard or harder than anyone in the league, drives the net to create his own momentum, and doesn’t know the meaning of quit would be welcomed as my captain any day.

Gallagher is mix of old school and new school hockey that he has built on every season in the NHL. I would speculate that if the Canadiens could ever land the ever unattainable top 6 center and said center had chemistry with Gallagher he could approach the 40 Goal plateau.

Captain Gallagher who also puts up 30-40 goals? Sounds like the right call to me. But I’m just some guy sharing his opinions on all things Canadiens, what do I know.



Go Habs Go!
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