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.

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.

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. At the age of 14, Garland was cut from their bantam team due to his height, and subsequently joined the Boston Junior Bruins of the Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL) for the 2011–12 season. Following his first season with the Junior Bruins, in which he recorded 94 points in 40 games, Garland was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft by the Moncton Wildcats.

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.

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.

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. Through his first 36 games with the Coyotes, Garland accumulated 12 goals and three assists for 15 points and 10 penalty minutes. He also tied for third on the team in goals and power-play goals. Having established a role within the Coyotes, adding 12 goals in 35 games, Garland was signed to a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension on February 27, 2019. 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.