The Canadiens Could Use Another Solid Veteran In The Lineup

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images It would be very difficult to argue against the unexpected impact of the Montreal Canadiens depth players in the 2026 NHL Playoffs. While the first line has scored exactly one goal at 5v5, the top five goalscorers are far from who you’d consider star players in Montreal. Alex Newhook leads the charge with five goals, with Kirby Dach following closely behind having scored four times.

Once we cross the chasmic gap between the aforementioned players and the rest of the lineup, we reach the players who have managed to score two goals: Alexandre Texier, Zachary Bolduc, and Josh Anderson. Yes, you read that right, only Newhook, Dach, Texier, Bolduc, and Anderson have scored more than one 5v5 goal. It’s a very interesting, if not concerning split for the youngest team in the NHL.

Room For One More Veteran And yet, I’d argue there’s space for one more veteran in the mix. A veteran who happens to be the oldest player in the organization. Yes, I’m talking about none other than Brendan Gallagher, oft-maligned winger who receives much more criticism than he deserves, while also acknowledging that his talent level has diminished significantly in recent years.

Consider this: In three playoff games, not only has Gallagher scored a goal, the Habs outclassed the Lightning by a huge margin every time he was on the ice. During his shifts, the Canadiens controlled almost 70 percent of the shots, expected goals, and high-danger scoring chances. The sample size is tiny, but Gallagher has provided the Habs with the best individual results in the playoffs from an underlying numbers standpoint.