Alex Galchenyuk: Making of a Star

Since the days of Stephane Richer, the Montreal Canadiens have been looking for a go-to forward that they can count on when the game is on the line. When they drafted Alex Galchenyuk third overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft, they may have finally filled that hole.

In his first two seasons, the team limited Galchenyuk’s ice-time to 12:19 and 14:24 per game respectively, much to the fans’ chagrin. They also moved him to the wing, in order to get him better acclimated with the pro game without burdening him with the defensive responsibilities that come with being a centre in the NHL.

He responded with moderately successful numbers, scoring 58 points in 113 games.

This season, all that development is finally paying off. The Canadiens stand atop the National Hockey League standings this morning, thanks in large part to the efforts of the 20 year-old Galchenyuk.

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He’s scored seven points in his first seven games, but perhaps most impressive is how, or rather in what circumstances, he’s scored them.

• Against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs on opening night, he assisted on the game-winning goal in the third period.
• He assisted on the game-tying goal, also in the third, against Washington, before also burying his shootout attempt.
• When the Habs played the Flyers, he scored the game-tying goal himself in, you guessed it, the third period.
• When the Colorado Avalanche visited Montreal, he assisted on the game-tying goal and scored the go-ahead goal in the second period.
• And finally, he scored a game-tying goal against the Detroit Red Wings late in the third, opening the door for the team’s sixth win of the season.

When the Montreal Canadiens have needed someone to step up so far this year, it’s been Alex Galchenyuk. I believe we are seeing the birth of a star in the National Hockey League.

While many wonder if and when head coach Michel Therrien will move him to centre, I believe the question to be asked is how good can he be, regardless of position? The answer may lie in looking at a few of his peers.

This type of ascension isn’t without precedence. Granted they weren’t third overall draft choices, but the Flyers’ captain Claude Giroux, his Anaheim Ducks counterpart Ryan Getzlaf and Stanley Cup Champion Mike Richards of the Kings all went through growing pains in their first couple of NHL seasons. What they also have in common however is that they all exploded, offensively speaking, in their third years.

Here’s a look at each player’s points-per-game during their first three NHL seasons:

• Claude Giroux: 0.64, 0.57, 0.93
• Ryan Getzlaf: 0.68, 0.71, 1.06
• Mike Richards: 0.43, 0.54, 1.03
• Alex Galchenyuk: 0.56, 0.48, 1.00 (so far)

When you consider that each of these three was two to three years older than Galchenyuk is now, and that all but Giroux produced lower points-per-game in their final junior seasons, you begin to realize that fans in Montreal have something special on their hands.

In a city known for having sometimes ridiculously high expectations of their own team and players, I just hope they don’t put too much pressure on Alex Galchenyuk’s young shoulders before he’s ready. Simply enjoy the ride, and let him develop into the star he’s now showing he can be.