One player who stepped up in a big for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2024-25 season was Conor Garland. He finished the season second on the team in assists with 31 and tied for second in points with 50. Regardless of score or time of the year, Garland gave it his all on the ice, often frustrating his opposition, which led to 30 penalties drawn.
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Despite Garland's strong season, the Canucks as a team took a step back this season. The organization went from Pacific Division champions to missing the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In his year-end media availability, Garland did not hide his frustrations as he believed the 2024-25 season was going to go differently.
"Obviously, disappointing season from where expectations were for us going into training camp," said Garland. "A lot of us had high hopes in the summer to build on what we created last year, and then to kind of have the year we had. Right now, probably hard for a lot of us in there to wrap our heads around just how it all unfolded, but you know, as the days and the weeks go on, I'm sure we'll do a lot more reflecting on it.
Canucks Conor Garland Heading To 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championships
At least one member of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> will be going to the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championships, as Conor Garland confirmed today that he’ll be representing Team USA at the international hockey tournament.
Garland was also asked about playing for Rick Tocchet and the impact Vancouver's head coach has had on him throughout his career. Tocchet has been Garland's coach in six of his seven NHL seasons, with the two having first worked together in Arizona. As Garland explained, he has a strong relationship with Tocchet that even extends off the ice.
"I feel like I've answered this a million times, but I had him when I was younger, and now I'm 29 with the family, so it's a different stage of my life and career, and he's kind of helped me through a lot of the stuff. Obviously, on the ice as a player, growing and off the ice. So it means a lot to me as a person and a coach. Very grateful to have him as a 22-year-old and understanding the structure of the game and how to play the right way. I think every player in the league wants to be a key player on a team that wins a cup or goes deep in the playoffs, not just a team that's at the bottom of the standing so it's a big difference as a player and he's one of the major reasons I was able to make that jump."
One of the big questions heading into the 2025-26 season is Garland's contract. The 29-year-old is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, and in a rising cap world, will have the opportunity to sign another long-term contract. While Garland will be eligible to sign an extension in a few months, his contract is not something he is focused on heading into the 2025 off-season.
"Well, I don't negotiate. My agent does that. That will be all up to them. I just enjoy my summer. I love the city of Vancouver. I've been very grateful to play for four seasons. But, you know, I signed five for a reason, so we got one more, and I just take it day by day. And you know, that's up to people, not me."
Garland has developed into the type of player every team needs. He leaves it all on the ice and will battle any player in the league. In the end, he is a valuable asset to the organization and should have yet another strong campaign in 2025-26.
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