As the Montreal Canadiens prepare for a new season, all eyes are on Brendan Gallagher and the intriguing possibility of a fresh role awaiting the veteran winger. With key departures reshaping the team’s penalty kill unit, rumors are swirling that Gallagher could be asked to step up and help fill the void.

While his relentless energy and leadership have long made him a fan favorite, a return to the penalty kill would mark a new chapter in his storied career.

The idea isn’t without precedent, but with the Canadiens entering a period of transition, every lineup decision carries extra weight. Gallagher’s potential shift back to the PK has sparked debate among analysts and fans alike, raising questions about how his tenacity and experience might impact Montreal’s special teams.

As speculation mounts, one thing is clear: if given the opportunity, Gallagher’s trademark intensity could make him a difference-maker in this critical role.

Jan 18, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

This isn’t the first time this offseason that the topic has come up, but a rumor suggests Brendan Gallagher could indeed be getting a new role.

We talked about this with Josh Anderson, but Gallagher is also a player who could return to the penalty kill and help make up for the departure of Joel Armia in particular.

In fact, the departures of Armia and Christian Dvorak will hurt the penalty kill.

Other players will have to step into those roles, and all signs point to one of them being Gallagher.

RUMOR: Brendan Gallagher Slated for First Wave of Canadiens’ Penalty Kill

Sure, Nick Suzuki would be excellent on the penalty kill, but at some point, the captain can’t be logging 30 minutes a night either.

“Grant McCagg discussed the situation on the Recrutes Draftcast podcast, and he believes two players could replace Dvorak and Armia: Brendan Gallagher and Alex Newhook.” – DLC

Brendan Gallagher back on the PK: Grant McCagg doesn’t rule it out.

It’ll be an interesting situation to watch, but after all these years, it would certainly be intriguing to see Gallagher return to the penalty kill-and knowing him, if Martin St-Louis assigns him that role, there’s no doubt Canadiens #11 will take it extremely seriously and do everything he can to become the best PK player in the NHL.