Alex Galchenyuk was a standout participant with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the place he had 83 factors in 68 video games throughout his 2010-11 rookie season. Sadly, in his draft yr, he had a extreme knee harm and solely performed two common season video games for Sarnia, however he did handle to place up 4 factors in six video games within the OHL playoffs. His knee harm could have saved him from being drafted first total in what was thought-about a weak draft class. Nonetheless, the Montreal Canadiens drafted him third total in 2012, and he performed 48 video games with them the next season, scoring 27 factors as an 18-year-old.
Every part appeared prefer it was going nice for the younger star, however rumours surfaced of various sorts, and his perspective and play modified all through his profession. He ended up taking part in for seven completely different groups and, apart from Montreal, none for multiple season. Here’s a have a look at Galchenyuk’s profession and what might need gone incorrect.
Canadiens Draft Galchenyuk and Issues Begin Good
The Canadiens have been glad to draft Galchenyuk third total; regardless of his knee harm, his offensive talent and puck-handling talents have been unmatched for that yr’s draft. Out of that draft class, solely Morgan Reilly, who was drafted fifth, Filip Forsberg, drafted eleventh, and Teuvo Teravainen, drafted 18th total have extra factors than Galchenyuk’s profession 354. Galchenyuk’s profession began sturdy with 27 factors in his 2012-13 NHL rookie season, taking part in each recreation within the shortened 48-game season. He improved on his level complete the next season with profession highs in targets with 13 and factors with 31 in 80 video games; he hit the 20-goal mark within the subsequent season, 2014-15, and scored a career-high of 44 factors. He was shortly changing into a fan favorite and was bettering each season. This led to his finest season in 2015-16, when he scored 56 factors and 30 targets for the Canadiens.
After his 30-goal marketing campaign, rumours about his extreme partying in Montreal began. The next season in 2016-17, he was hampered by a number of accidents and solely managed to play in 61 video games, however he had 44 factors and 17 targets which had him on tempo for a 59-point, 22-goal season if he performed 82 video games. Round this time, issues for Galchenyuk began going sideways, extra rumours arose of his off-ice habits, and others started about his father’s affect over his profession. An incident additionally occurred in 2016 the place police have been known as to Galchenyuk’s resort room due to a home dispute; though it was his girlfriend that was arrested for assault, it made lots of people query why he was in that state of affairs. 2017-18 was his final season with Montreal, as they traded him to the Arizona Coyotes for Max Domi within the offseason.
Galchenyuk’s Carousel of Groups Begins
Galchenyuk had one other stable season in his first yr as a Coyote with 41 factors and 19 targets, however this nonetheless wasn’t sufficient to maintain him within the desert. The next offseason, in 2019, he and Pierre-Olivier Joseph have been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Phil Kessel, Dane Birks, and a 4th-round choose within the 2021 Draft. This allowed Galchenyuk to redeem himself by taking part in with among the finest gamers within the NHL: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. This, nonetheless, didn’t work out as Galchenyuk solely scored 5 targets and 17 factors earlier than being traded mid-season to the Minnesota Wild for Jason Zucker. Galchenyuk’s contract was over on the finish of the season, and he turned a free agent (FA) for the primary time in his profession.
Associated: Ex-Canadien Alex Galchenyuk: 1st Spherical Draft to Hockey Pilgrim
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The Ottawa Senators determined to take an opportunity on the now 26-year-old ahead and signed him to a one-year contract in 2020. He performed solely eight video games with the Senators earlier than being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, who despatched him to the Toronto Maple Leafs solely two days later. He joined their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, for six video games, scoring eight factors earlier than being known as as much as the Maple Leafs. In 26 video games for Toronto, he scored 12 factors and one other 4 factors throughout six playoff video games in 2020-21. This wasn’t sufficient for the Leafs to re-sign him, and he discovered himself again with Arizona, the place he scored 21 factors in 60 video games. The Colorado Avalanche signed him in 2022-23, and he spent most of his time with their AHL staff, the Colorado Eagles, scoring 42 factors in 42 video games. Nonetheless, he didn’t register some extent with the Avalanche within the 11 video games he performed there.
In June of 2023, his rights have been traded to the Nashville Predators, they usually let him turn out to be an on July 1. The Coyotes as soon as once more determined to deliver Galchenyuk again to the desert, however 13 days later, he was launched from his contract. He’s as soon as once more an FA however will in all probability not signal with one other staff within the NHL.
Galchenyuk’s Fall From Grace
In 2012, Galchenyuk was seen as a possible NHL famous person; he had the pace, puck abilities, and offensive expertise to be one of many higher forwards within the NHL. This was an enormous purpose Montreal drafted him: the Canadiens have been starved for top-level expertise for many years. Though he improved in his first few seasons, cracks have been exhibiting – points with coaches, off-ice issues with an excessive amount of partying, rumours and hypothesis of his father having an excessive amount of affect. He shortly went from a possible star to an untrustworthy defensive legal responsibility. After his commerce to Arizona, it turned extra apparent he by no means solely turned snug along with his new groups.
The hints of his points have been there. Former Canadiens participant and coach Mario Trembley stated in 2017 that Galchenyuk had been in rehab twice. The Canadiens and Galchenyuk by no means corroborated Trembley’s story, and Trembley wouldn’t reply questions on how he knew or if it was true. Though nobody outright agreed with Trembley’s allegations, nobody denied them both; basic supervisor Marc Bergevin on the time stated he couldn’t speak about it, and Galchenyuk simply stated he had by no means heard the feedback. Galchenyuk has been coping with one thing severe since he was 22. This could additionally clarify why he by no means reached his potential and the huge drop in his manufacturing in recent times.
Many followers and media have been shocked when the Coyotes launched Galchenyuk from his contract lower than two weeks after his signing date. When the report revealed why Arizona so shortly terminated the contract, it solely solidified the reality behind the years-long rumours which have always hampered him since his time in Montreal. As followers and media members, we shouldn’t think about what he did or stated however on what will be accomplished for him now and sooner or later. He has deep-seated demons and wishes all the assistance he can get; at solely 29, he nonetheless has loads of life forward of him and perhaps some extra hockey. That is Galchenyuk’s all-time low. He has apologized to the police and can go into the NHL and the NHLPA help program. Hopefully, quickly, we are able to write redemption tales and have a good time his restoration.
