Monday, January 28, 2013
What Galchenyuk means to Montreal
By Luke Lapinski
With four NHL games to his name already this season, Alex Galchenyuk and the Montreal Canadiens were nearing decision day. The club either had to send him down to juniors as what essentially amounts to a trial period for the 18-year old was wrapping up, or keep him on the roster and burn through a year of his entry-level deal.
As it turns out, they chose the latter. Galchenyuk simply made it too difficult for them to send him down, chipping in a goal and two assists in his first four games. After being selected No. 3 overall in the 2012 Draft, he came to Montreal amid plenty of hype and lofty expectations. In fact, some believed he was worthy of being take No. 1 overall. The talent is clearly there, but there's never a guarantee that a teenager will be ready for the NHL right out of the gate. Galchenyuk has looked good already though and, now that he's using up a year of his entry-level deal, logic dictates he'll be given every opportunity to contribute and stick with the Habs the rest of the way. Not only does he provide them with some creative offensive abilities, he gives the fans a rising young player to get excited about right now -- something they could sorely use with Max Pacioretty hurt and the P.K. Subban contract dispute dragging on.
