Veteran winger has changed agents fuelling speculation he's seeking a trade
While Conor Garland and his Vancouver Canucks were on the ice for their final pre-season practice before opening the 2023-24 National Hockey League season against Edmonton tomorrow night, a report broke that the veteran winger is looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
In recent days, Garland has switched representatives from Peter Cooney to Judd Moldaver.
Garland's name has been in trade rumours for much of his two seasons in Vancouver, but with no takers. He has underperformed relative to his $4.95M contract which has three years remaining. It's believed the Canucks have shopped him in the past, but this time it sounds like Garland's camp is the one seeking a change of scenery.
Following practice at Rogers Arena, Garland wouldn't deny the report when asked repeatedly if he wants out.
"I'm really just more focussed on tomorrow night's game," Garland said when asked to comment on the story.
When pressed whether the report is accurate, Garland again opted to focus on Wednesday's game with the Oilers.
"I'm not an agent, I'm a hockey player, I play hockey and tomorrow's the home opener, I'm excited about that and that's what my sole focus is on," he added. "I'm excited to play the home opener in a Canadian market. I'm a Vancouver Canuck and I'm excited to get on the ice tomorrow."
When asked if he was happy to be a Vancouver Canuck, Garland pushed back.
"Why wouldn't I be?" he questioned. "I've been here for two years. I have some really good friends here. It's a fun place to play. We've had a good couple of weeks to get ready and I feel like we're focussed and we've got a big test tomorrow."
Asked one final time to put the story to bed, Garland again stick handled his way around the answer.
"I think it came out that I've changed agents in the past 48 hours so there hasn't been a whole lot of conversations," he said." I don't think there's anything to put to bed. I think for us as players, maybe you guys don't realize it, you're in such a tunnel during the season that you're focussed on playing each game. I'm a big routine person. I focus on every day and right now I'm excited, I get a chance to play on the first line tomorrow with two great players against a really good team. That's where my focus is most."
Credit Garland for standing in and handling the questions, but at the same time, it's impossible to hear him talk about his laser focus while also admitting he switched agents within 48 hours of the season opener. Surely, that took some of his time and attention over the past few days.
Garland is coming off a disappointing offensive season in which he scored 17 goals and 46 points. He has yet to hit the 20-goal mark in his first two seasons in Vancouver.
His back-end loaded contract carries a $4.95M AAV, but in real dollars Garland is owed $6M in each of the next two seasons and $5M in the final year of his deal.
RELATED ARTICLE:
Conor Garland reflects on two tumultuous seasons in Vancouver