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Gallagher already loves defenceman Jeff Petry, who was acquired by the Canadiens from the Edmonton Oilers at last season’s NHL trade deadline and signed a six-year, $33-million free-agent contract with the Habs this summer.

“He fit in perfectly with our group,” Gallagher said. “The style of game he plays it was easy for him to come in and just be who he is. He didn’t have to overthink. He’s a very smart hockey player … he makes a great first pass. With our team, no one really holds onto the puck all that much for too long, so he just came in, he moved the puck quickly, got it going and fit in perfectly. He might have been our best player in the playoffs. He was that good. Obviously, we were really happy to re-sign him.”

The Canadiens announced on July 7 that Max Pacioretty suffered a knee injury during an off-ice workout and that his recovery was expected to take 12 weeks. The Canadiens open the season on Oct. 7 in Toronto and depending on Pacioretty’s recovery could be without their leading scorer from last season, when he had 37 goals and 67 points.

“He’s got a history of being a pretty quick healer, so I expect him back pretty soon,” Gallagher said.

“He’s such an important piece for our team and the strides that he took becoming a leader in our locker room that guys like myself look toward to follow. Definitely a guy that we’re going to need, but I don’t think we’re all that worried with Patch. He’s been hurt before and he’s come back even stronger, so I think we’re expecting the same thing.”

I love watching the YouTube video below of Gallagher playing at the 2002 Brick Super Novice Hockey Tournament as a 10-year-old. His style of play hasn’t changed much since then.