The Blue Jackets entered the March 6th trade deadline hoping to give their offense a boost. The team was not getting consistent production from its second line and GM Don Waddell wanted to provide more stability for that unit. So, he acquired right winger Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2nd (2028) and 3rd (2026) round pick.
Garland was having a down year in Vancouver, where he was on pace for his worst offensive season to date. However, after the trade, the Blue Jackets reaped the rewards of his acquisition immediately.
Garland scored 4 goals in his first 3 games with the team. He seemed to be energized from the fresh start. Unfortunately, that offense didn’t last. He went on to score only 1 more goal for the team the rest of the season. In all fairness to Garland, a majority of the team struggled to score in the final weeks of the season.
Even if he didn’t get on the scoresheet, Garland brought speed and energy to each game. While undersized, he was feisty and helped make plays for the teammates. He played alongside Kent Johnson and those two showed flashes of good chemistry. He was utilized on the second power play unit and did not see time on the penalty kill.
Garland signed a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks prior to the trade to Columbus. That extension kicks in starting this summer and goes until the summer of 2032. Over those 6 seasons, the Blue Jackets will pay him an AAV of $6.0 million. Garland will be a part of this organization for the foreseeable future.
Final season stats (for the Blue Jackets only): 21 games played, 5 goals, 2 assists, 7 points, 4 PIM, -6, 34 shots on goal, Overall grade: B-
Garland was acquired at the trade deadline to add depth and help boost the offense, more specifically the second line offensive production. He started strong but then faded, as did most of the offense.
He did bring a lot of speed and energy to every game, which was much needed. He gets a B- because he did provide some boost to the offense, but he wasn’t able to consistently provide offensive support.
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