Conor Garland

Conor Garland (born March 11, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Garland was drafted in the fifth round, 123rd overall, by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2015 NHL entry draft, and has also played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks.

Prior to turning professional, Garland played for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) where he was awarded the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL most valuable player and twice selected for the QMJHL First All-Star team. After a successful stint with the Coyotes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, he played parts of three NHL seasons before the Coyotes traded him to the Canucks. Following a four-and-a-half-season stint in Vancouver, Garland was then traded to Columbus.

Early life Garland was born on March 11, 1996, in Scituate, Massachusetts, to parents Bridget, a train station foreman, and Garry, who was a collegiate ice hockey player. He also has three sisters, two of whom played collegiate lacrosse. Garland began skating at the age of four and attended skating clinics run by Michael Botticelli.

Playing career

Youth Growing up in Massachusetts, Garland played youth ice hockey with Boston Mission and Team Massachusetts. He then attended Shattuck-Saint Mary's, a boarding school in Minnesota, where he recorded 116 points in 52 games.

After beginning the 2012–13 season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Garland moved to playing for the Wildcats in the QMJHL, foregoing his NCAA eligibility.

Juniors During the 2014–15 season, while playing with the Wildcats, Garland led both the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) with 129 points. He was named to the QMJHL First All-Star team, and was further honored when he was awarded the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL most valuable player. Garland was then selected 123rd overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft by the Arizona Coyotes.

Arizona Coyotes

While in his final season of junior level with the Wildcats, Garland was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Coyotes on December 23, 2015. Following the conclusion of the season, Garland was invited to participate in the Coyotes' 2016 development camp, and remained in the state for the remainder of the off-season. Following camp, Garland was reassigned to the Coyotes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, for the 2016–17 season. He recorded his first professional goal on December 2, 2016, against the San Diego Gulls.

After attending training camp, Garland was reassigned to the Roadrunners to begin the 2018–19 season. He led the team with 19 points before earning his first NHL call-up on December 3, 2018. His recall was due to his outstanding play at the AHL level and the belief that he minimized his bad habits from junior level and became a more complete player. He made his NHL debut on December 8, in a 5–3 loss to the San Jose Sharks. During his callup, he earned a top-line left-wing role alongside Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller. Despite his offensive output, the Coyotes were eliminated from playoff contention on April 5. He finished the season with 13 goals and five assists through 47 NHL games.

During a game against the Calgary Flames, Garland suffered a lower-body injury when he collided with goaltender Cam Talbot. On March 8, 2020, it was announced that Garland would be week-to-week with a lower-body injury. At the time of the injury, he led the team in goals and was tied third for points with 39. He tallied 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points through 68 regular season games and set single-season career highs in games, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals and shots. Six days following the injury, the NHL paused the season due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Once they returned to play, Garland was healthy and rejoined the lineup. On June 9, Garland was the Coyotes' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy as a "player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." Upon returning from the injury, Garland tallied six points through three games to rank third on the team in scoring with 38 points. During the 2020–NHL season, the Coyotes played the St. Louis Blues eight times. During the series, he played with Schmaltz and Keller on the Coyotes' "Short Leash Line" which combined for 21 points. As the 2021 NHL expansion draft approached, Garland was one of seven forwards protected by the Coyotes.

Vancouver Canucks On July 23, 2021, Garland's restricted free agent signing rights were traded, along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel, a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and a 2023 seventh-round pick. Prior to the start of the 2021–22 season, Garland signed a five-year, $24.75 million contract extension with the Canucks.

On July 1, 2025, on the first day he was eligible, Garland signed a six-year, $36 million contract extension with the Canucks.

Columbus Blue Jackets On March 6, 2026, Garland was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.

International play

Garland represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded five goals and five assists in ten games and helped Team USA win their first gold medal since 1933.

Personal life Garland and his wife, Meghan, have one child, born in 2024.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 Boston Jr. Bruins EMJHL 40 42 52 94 53 5 3 6 9 14 2011–12 Boston Jr. Bruins EJHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2012–13 Muskegon Lumberjacks USHL 6 1 2 3 2 — — — — — 2012–13 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 26 6 11 17 16 5 0 0 0 0 2013–14 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 51 24 30 54 39 6 2 3 5 2 2014–15 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 67 35 94 129 66 16 3 22 25 17 2015–16 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 62 39 89 128 97 17 5 10 15 18 2016–17 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 55 5 9 14 37 — — — — — 2017–18 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 55 8 19 27 40 9 1 4 5 6 2018–19 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 21 12 13 25 22 — — — — — 2018–19 Arizona Coyotes NHL 47 13 5 18 12 — — — — — 2019–20 Arizona Coyotes NHL 68 22 17 39 20 8 1 1 2 0 2020–21 Arizona Coyotes NHL 49 12 27 39 26 — — — — — 2021–22 Vancouver Canucks NHL 77 19 33 52 36 — — — — — 2022–23 Vancouver Canucks NHL 81 17 29 46 31 — — — — — 2023–24 Vancouver Canucks NHL 82 20 27 47 35 13 3 2 5 2 2024–25 Vancouver Canucks NHL 81 19 31 50 52 — — — — — 2025–26 Vancouver Canucks NHL 50 7 19 26 30 — — — — — 2025–26 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 21 5 2 7 4 — — — — —NHL totals 556 134 190 323 246 21 4 3 7 2

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2021 United States WC 10 6 7 13 6 2023 United States WC 4th 10 2 6 8 0 2025 United States WC 10 5 5 10 14Senior totals 30 13 18 31 20

Awards and honors Award Year RefQMJHL Jean Béliveau Trophy 2014–15, 2015–16 First All-Star team 2014–15, 2015–16 Michel Brière Memorial Trophy 2014–15 CHL Top Scorer Award (tied with Dylan Strome) 2014–15, 2015–16 International World Championship All-Star Team 2021