Over his four years with the organization, Conor Garland has been one of the Vancouver Canucks most consistent forwards. This past season, he recorded his second consecutive 50-point season and has produced at least 15 goals and 45 points each of the past four years. Originally brought over in the Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade, Garland has become a fan favourite, as his continuous motor allows him to be impactful at both ends of the ice.
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With the season complete, Garland is currently representing Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Recently, he participated in an interview with "Donnie and Dhail", where he discussed a variety of topics, including the season that was and his thoughts on Rick Tocchet's departure. Garland started his interview by discussing the 2024-25 season and why the Canucks ended up missing the post-season.
"No, I probably can't put it into words, said Garland. It really was a trying experience for us. And, you know, felt like we could never really, you know, get on a roll, or get off to the right start. We fumbled two games early in the season. You know, played good hockey for about 10 games there, and then, really never found a way to put it together. So, yeah, it was, obviously, you know, a lot of stuff went on. Everybody knows about that, but when it comes down to it, we just didn't perform well enough to get the amount of points we need to get in the playoffs, and that's why we're out after 82 games."
Garland was then asked about Rick Tocchet's decision to leave the organization this summer. Tocchet not only coached Garland in Vancouver but also when he was with the Arizona Coyotes. Based on his answer, it is clear that Garland and Tocchet had a special connection that extended beyond the ice.
"I don't know. I think Tocc's a guy that you have to earn your minutes for. So to speak on that, I just think if a coach like that's behind the bench, he's going to play guys who are going, and I try to be going each and every night. But, you know, obviously I was disappointed when I found out. Rick's someone who helped me when I came into the league as a young kid, you know, helped form my game. You know, I was a big point producer in junior, but I didn't really understand the other side of the game, and to have him was so big for me at a young age. And you know, having him later on was awesome, a great experience. And you know, any team that gets him is going to be a very lucky club."
Canucks Conor Garland Speaks On Longtime Coach Rick Tocchet
It’s no secret that Rick Tocchet was very well-liked by his former <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> players. Captain Quinn Hughes has spoken at length about the impact Tocchet has had on his growth as a player. One record that will also be coming to a close following Tocchet’s departure is his time as Conor Garland’s coach.
It’s no secret that Rick Tocchet was very well-liked by his former Vancouver Canucks players. Captain Quinn Hughes has spoken at length about the impact Tocchet has had on his growth as a player. One record that will also be coming to a close following Tocchet’s departure is his time as Conor Garland’s coach.
During the interview, Garland was also asked about his teammate Brock Boeser, who is an unrestricted free agent this off-season. Boeser and Garland finished tied for the team lead among forwards with 50 points, and were both featured on the first power play unit for stretches of the season. It is clear that Garland does not want Boeser to leave, in part because of the friendship that was built this season.
"I look at it two ways. He's a very close friend of mine. I've been with him for four years. We're kind of in touch, you know, seems like every other day in the summer. And, you know, our relationship really grew a lot this year, and as we got older. So I'd be very disappointed if he leaves in that aspect. And then, as a hockey player, he's a tremendous player. It's hard to score goals in this league. He's someone who does it each and every year on a consistent basis. I think he's a very underrated playmaker, and he has a lot of poise through the neutral zone. Someone who helped our team a lot break out and get into the other team's zone. I think he's very underrated around the league and, you know, I'd love to have him back."
Another topic brought up during the interview was Garland's contract. While he is not a free agent until 2026, he does have the option to sign an extension this off-season. In the end, Garland did not reveal which way he and his camp were leaning and instead pointed out that his agent would do the negotiating when the time came.
"I love Vancouver. I think it's a great city. I really warmed up to it last year. Obviously, winning helps, but this year, you know, I just really enjoyed the city. I love living in it. Having a son this year and having a place where I can take him and walk. I find it a lot like Boston. Just on the very opposite side of the continent. But, you know, I got a great agent. He handles that stuff. I just play hockey, and that's what I love doing, and I enjoy doing it. That's how I look at it. That's up to him."
Lastly, Garland was asked if he had a message for the fans. The 29-year-old made it clear that he believes the team will come back stronger in 2025-26 and be able to take a step forward rather than another step back. Garland also pointed out that the organization has built a strong roster, and gave a special shoutout to the goaltending tandem of Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen.
"I've been a fan of teams. I'm still a fan of the Patriots. I watch every Sunday, and they had a disappointing season as well. And I understand what that's like on the fan side of it. So, you know, you just want to let them know, hey, like, we're coming back and we're trying to get right back to where we were. We have a lot of good pieces. The guys over here, they asked me, What's going on? I look at our D core, and I think we got one of the best D cores in the league. We, for sure, have the best goalie tandem in the league. And, yeah, I'm a forward who needs to produce a lot more and play a lot better. And we got some guys up front that want to come back and have great years and be hungry, and hopefully we can make a few additions. I think we've got a really good hockey club."
Based on Garland's answers, Canucks fans should feel confident heading into the 2025-26 season. There should also be less turmoil, as some of the major issues that plagued the team last year will not be a factor in the future. Overall, Garland sounds confident that the 2024-25 season was just a blip and that this roster has its eyes on a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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