Nathan MacKinnon's Infamous Helmet Toss Is Worth Remembering After Latest NHL News

Conor Garland might not be in the lineup Tuesday night, as the Columbus Blue Jackets forward is dealing with an illness ahead of their game against the Florida Panthers.

According to reports, Garland is a game-time decision. Head coach Rick Bowness told reporters that Luca Del Bel Belluz would draw into the lineup if Garland can't go.

It's not exactly the kind of news that would normally get Colorado Avalanche fans' attention. But Garland has a history with Nathan MacKinnon that Avs fans probably haven't forgotten.

Back in March 2021, Garland was with the Arizona Coyotes when he got caught up in a heated exchange with MacKinnon during Colorado's 9-3 win.

Late in the third period, MacKinnon took Garland down near the boards, knocking his helmet off. The situation escalated when Garland later got into it with then-Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. MacKinnon grabbed Garland's helmet and tossed it at him.

MacKinnon was assessed a double minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. He was also fined $5,000. Replays of the incident are constantly reposted on X (formerly known as Twitter) to this day.

Garland has since moved on from Arizona, spending time with the Vancouver Canucks before joining Columbus. At 30, he's now trying to get through an illness while the Blue Jackets figure out whether they'll have him available Tuesday.

His start to the season hasn't been particularly productive, either. Garland has no points through four games, with just one shot on goal and an average of 12:25 of ice time per night.

If he misses Tuesday's game, Columbus won't play again until Saturday, when the Blue Jackets face the New York Rangers. That gives Garland a few extra days to recover.

For now, his availability remains up in the air. For Avalanche fans, it remains one of the more hilarious spectacles in the career of the one and only Nathan MacKinnon.