I think that the fact that he was able to contribute the way he did while playing in our top 6 changed the landscape of our offense. I agree with you that he wasn't our mvp, but he was one of the big reasons why we did so well offensively as a whole during the regular season.
He wasn't a big reason why we did so well. Guys like Ovechkin can be a big reason, Gallagher was just another good solid depth player.
Depth and change of system were the two reasons why we did well. Gallagher played an important role in that depth, just like MaxPac did, Eller, Gally, Plek, Markov, Ryder, PK, etc..
He's a great kid, and played his part, hopefully he'll keep improving next year.
Yeah, you're right about the tire pumping. Still though, there's no denying that at points the Habs seemed to go through flat spots, and Gallagher was one of the more obvious momentum generators when they needed it. Other players had their time of prominence, for sure (Prust, for example), but Gallagher was conspicuous pretty much start to finish. "Quality of play", though, and role filled, etc, you're probably right.
Ya, no doubt, he was consistent and has the ability to swing momentum our way.
Hey man, Gallagher deserves a little hyperbole! Aside from Prust, the team was the same as the year before and, no, they didn't play anything like the way they did this past season. The same team that finished 19th in scoring in 2012, 22nd in 2011 and 25th in 2010, made it to #4 in 2013. How did that happen? The coaching system focused on transitioning from the D much faster - a big difference - but the biggest factor in offense from last year to this was the team's willingness to drive towards the net and buzz around for rebounds. Habs had been a perimeter shooting team for years; now suddenly we were winning games with dirty, in-close goals.
Same players, different results? That's a mindset. Obviously it doesn't all come from Gallagher. But I think his enthusiasm and intensity was infectious, and yeah, I think his teammates watched what he was doing and had to choose -- either let this kid show them up, or step up and enter the battleground. The team stepped up (for most of the season, anyway) and a lot of that was because they saw Gallagher's style of play.
So maybe he's not the actual MVP; more the Purple Heart of Valour winner.
We have the same players?
Gomez, Kaberle, Cammy, AK, Gill, Cole, Weber (played 60games last year vs 6 this year), Campoli, Darche??
Those guys either didn't play this year for us, or barely did.
But yes, the biggest factor was our system. Still, having Markov back, seeing our youngsters develop like Eller, Emelin and Diaz, helped, the contribution of rookies was also a big help, having the most productive pair of Dmen through the NHL played a huge role too.
I don't think the team stepped up because Gallagher did. I'm sure he earned himself some admiration, but it didn't make Plekanec step his game up any more. Likewise for most of the others. The system made our players perform differently, sure, but the ethic and battling was no different.
I think Eller was more important than Galchenyuk or Gallagher. He was the glue holding our depth together.