Conor Garland Bio
Conor Garland is an American professional ice hockey player who plays the winger position. Born on March 11, 1996, in Scituate, Massachusetts, he was selected 123rd overall in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. After building a strong reputation in junior hockey with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, Garland worked his way through the minor leagues before establishing himself as a reliable NHL contributor. He has spent the bulk of his NHL career in the Pacific Division, first with Arizona and then with the Vancouver Canucks.
Known for his offensive skill and quick release, Garland has also earned recognition for his perseverance and dedication to the sport, qualities reflected by his nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2020. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds, he has long defied expectations for a player of his size, and his journey from being cut at age 14 to becoming a steady NHL winger has become a defining part of his story.
Early Life and Background
Conor Garland was born on March 11, 1996, in Scituate, Massachusetts, to parents Bridget and Garry. His father, Garry, was a collegiate ice hockey player, which gave Conor an early connection to the sport. Garland also has three sisters, two of whom played collegiate lacrosse, making athletics a clear feature of his family life.
Garland first stepped onto the ice at the age of four, when he began attending skating clinics run by coach Michael Botticelli. Growing up in Massachusetts, he played youth hockey with the Boston Mission and Team Massachusetts, developing the offensive instincts that would later define his game. At the age of 14, he was cut from his bantam team due to his height, a setback that pushed him onto a different developmental path.
Following that cut, Garland joined the Boston Junior Bruins of the Empire Junior Hockey League for the 2011–12 season. He recorded 94 points in 40 games, a breakout performance that caught the attention of QMJHL scouts. He also attended Shattuck-Saint Mary’s, a boarding school in Minnesota, where he posted 116 points in 52 games.
Path to Professional Hockey
Garland’s first significant opportunity in major junior hockey came when the Moncton Wildcats selected him in the sixth round of the 2012 QMJHL Draft. He began the 2012–13 season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL before moving to the Wildcats, a transition that led him to forgo his NCAA eligibility. The move to the QMJHL marked his full commitment to professional hockey development.
During the 2014–15 season, Garland emerged as one of the top scorers in all of Canadian major junior hockey. He led both the QMJHL and the Canadian Hockey League with 129 points, earned a spot on the QMJHL First All-Star Team, and was awarded the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. He was also twice selected to the QMJHL First All-Star team during his junior career.
On December 23, 2015, while still in his final junior season, Garland signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes. He was then selected 123rd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by Arizona, completing his rise from a cut bantam player to a drafted NHL prospect.
Conor Garland Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Following his draft, Garland was reassigned to the Coyotes’ 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. He continued his development in Tucson through the 2017–18 season, refining his game and adjusting to the pace of professional hockey.
After attending training camp ahead of the 2018–19 season, Garland was again sent to the Roadrunners to begin the year. He led the team with 19 points before earning his first NHL call-up on December 3, 2018, a promotion that reflected his strong play and improved two-way habits at the AHL level.
Arizona Coyotes Breakthrough (2018–2021)
Garland made his NHL debut on December 8, 2018, in a 5–3 loss to the San Jose Sharks. He quickly earned a top-line role alongside Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller, and through his first 36 games with the Coyotes, he posted 12 goals and three assists for 15 points. On February 27, 2019, he signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension with Arizona, cementing his place in the team’s plans.
During the 2019–20 season, Garland set new single-season career highs in games, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, and shots, finishing with 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points in 68 games. He also led the Coyotes in goals at one point and was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2020 for his perseverance through a lower-body injury. Despite his offensive output, Arizona missed the playoffs that year. In 2020–21, he continued to produce alongside Schmaltz and Keller on the so-called Short Leash Line, and was one of seven forwards protected by the Coyotes ahead of the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2021–2026)
On July 23, 2021, Garland’s rights were traded, along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel, and multiple draft picks. Before the 2021–22 season began, he signed a five-year, $24.75 million contract extension with Vancouver, signaling the team’s long-term commitment to him.
Garland became a steady offensive contributor for the Canucks across four and a half seasons in Vancouver. On July 1, 2025, on the first day he was eligible, he signed a six-year, $36 million contract extension with the club, further extending his stay. He then 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 its first gold medal since 1933.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2026–Present)
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. The move marked the start of a new chapter for the veteran winger as he joined a retooling Blue Jackets roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garland is widely regarded as a crafty, offensively skilled winger with a quick shot and the ability to create offense in tight spaces. Despite his smaller stature at 5 feet 8 inches, he plays a physical, competitive game and has built strong chemistry with linemates such as Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. His perseverance through injuries has also been a defining characteristic of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most celebrated achievements, Garland helped Team USA win gold at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, the country’s first in the tournament since 1933. He also earned the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as QMJHL MVP in 2015, and was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2020 after a season in which he set multiple career highs.
Conor Garland Career Wins
While Garland is not primarily known for championship trophies at the NHL level, he has collected significant individual awards throughout his career. He was twice named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team and was named QMJHL Most Valuable Player in 2015. Internationally, his gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Championship stands as the most prestigious honor of his career.
QMJHL Highlights
During his time with the Moncton Wildcats, Garland posted 129 points in 2014–15 to lead both the QMJHL and the CHL in scoring. He was awarded the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL’s most valuable player and earned QMJHL First All-Star Team honors, capping one of the most productive individual seasons in modern QMJHL history.
International Highlights
Garland represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he finished the tournament with five goals and five assists in ten games. His contributions helped Team USA claim its first gold medal in the event since 1933, a milestone achievement for both the player and the program.
Conor Garland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Garland was raised in Scituate, Massachusetts, by his parents Bridget and Garry. His father, Garry, was a collegiate ice hockey player, providing Conor with an athletic upbringing. He also grew up with three sisters, two of whom went on to play collegiate lacrosse.
Personal Life
Garland is married to his wife, Meghan. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in 2024.
2025 Season Performance
Garland’s 2025 calendar year was highlighted by a major international triumph. Representing the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, he posted five goals and five assists in ten games and helped Team USA win its first gold medal in the tournament since 1933. The performance cemented his reputation as a clutch performer on an international stage.
At the club level, Garland signed a six-year, $36 million contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2025, the first day he was eligible, signaling his importance to the franchise. He continued to serve as a steady offensive contributor for Vancouver through the early months of the 2025–26 season before his trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets in March 2026.
