The Columbus Blue Jackets won a big game Thursday night against the Florida Panthers. That may very well have prompted GM Don Waddell to jump into action. He wasted no time.
Early Friday morning, the Blue Jackets acquired Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for two draft picks, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Both of these picks are the Blue Jackets’ own picks.
Garland is in the final year of his current year. He signed a six-year extension that kicks in next season at $6 million AAV.
For the Blue Jackets, the reason they made this move is simple. They needed scoring help on the wing. Given their run under new coach Rick Bowness, 13-2-1 since he took over from Dean Evason, the time was now to make this trade.
What Garland Brings to the Blue Jackets
Here is what Waddell had to say about acquiring Garland.
“Conor is a versatile player who brings great energy to the lineup every night and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome he and his family to Columbus. He has tremendous character, plays a reliable two-way game and will be an important part of our club now and in the future.”
The key to this whole thing for Waddell and the Blue Jackets was term. He was on record stating that he wasn’t necessarily interested in trading first-round picks for rentals. He prioritized players with term should the opportunity arise.
Given where the Canucks are heading, it made sense to find Garland a new home before his no-move clause kicked in at the start of his new contract. The first three years have a full no-move clause while the last three years have a modified no-trade clause. The belief is that helped drive the price the Blue Jackets had to pay down so they didn’t have to part with any top prospects or first-round picks.
It has been a tough year for Garland with the Canucks. But when he’s on top of his game, he brings energy, speed and intelligence. He’s averaged in the 17-20 goal range in his four previous seasons before this. His point totals were 52, 46, 47 and 50.
The Blue Jackets’ second line has been a source of frustration all season. Although that line played very well on Thursday night against the Panthers, Garland can fit in on the right side of that line giving them a boost in multiple areas of the game.
Garland and Zach Werenski played together for Team U.S.A. at the Men’s World Championships. They won gold as alternate captains of the team.
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Garland plays the kind of game the Blue Jackets value. His tenacious style along with his playmaking ability will give opponents something else they have to account for. Should the Blue Jackets make the playoffs, his style is perfect for tight, close-checking games.
As for the Canucks, they will have multiple second-round picks in the next three drafts, perfect for a team looking to rebuild from the ground up.
The Blue Jackets may or may not be done. They still have around 14 hours as of this writing to see if they have any more tricks up their sleeve.
