Keep an eye on this Blue Jackets forward next season.
Ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forward Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks. The move was understandable, as the Blue Jackets needed another an impactful forward to solidify their top nine.
Following being traded to the Blue Jackets, Garland recorded five goals and seven points in 21 games. This was after he had seven goals and 26 points in 50 games with the Canucks before the trade.
With these numbers, Garland finished the season with 12 goals and 33 points in 72 games. Overall, the Scituate, Massachusetts native put up decent offensive totals, but they were also a bit low for his standards. Due to this, he is a bounce-back candidate to watch on the Blue Jackets next season.
There is real reason to believe that Garland can improve his offensive totals next season. Just back during the 2024-25 season with the Canucks, he recorded 19 goals, 31 assists, and 50 points. He also recorded at 17 goals and 46 points every season from 2021-22 to 2024-25. With that, it is clear that Garland has the potential to produce more offense next season.
It is going to be very intriguing to see what kind of season Garland puts together for the Blue Jackets in 2026-27. If he bounces back, it could help the Blue Jackets tremendously.
