Canadiens Sit Brendan Gallagher First Time in His Career

For the first time in his NHL career, Brendan Gallagher will find himself watching from the press box tonight against the San Jose Sharks. When Montreal Canadiens’ head coach Martin St. Louis scratched one of the team’s longest-serving players, it was more than noteworthy. It was the first time Gallagher had ever sat out of a game as a coaching decision.

Although St. Louis Clearly Didn’t Like Doing It, He Said It Was a Positive

But the really interesting part came afterward when head coach Martin St. Louis was asked about it. You could tell during the interview that it couldn’t have been an easy decision. His response was to the point. But it was also quiet, calm, and measured.

When the media pushed St. Louis about scratching Gallagher, he made sure everyone knew it wasn’t a slap on the wrist or that he was fed up with his player’s effort. He turned it around and called it a plus—Gallagher will be back in the lineup next game. They’re just being careful with his energy and leaning on the extra forwards they’ve got to keep everyone sharp.

In Short, St. Louis Made the Move Because He Could

Having the depth to replace a regular player like Gallagher is the kind of problem coaches don’t mind having. St. Louis admitted the decision wasn’t easy. There’s really no set of rules for preparing a coach to sit a player like Gallagher, especially given that he’s a heart-and-soul veteran who has been part of the team for many seasons.

St. Louis called it a “cold, calculated decision.” An NHL coach has a weird job, being part psychologist and part strategist. You have to handle personalities, dole out minutes, and even watch who’s running low on gas. Sometimes that means benching the young gun for a night. Sometimes it’s giving the veteran a breather, even though everyone’s used to seeing him out there. It’s just part of the job of keeping the team right for the long haul.