The Vancouver Canucks have inked newcomer Conor Garland to a five-year deal that will carry an average annual value of $4.95MM. The young forward was recently acquired from the Arizona Coyotes and was an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent. Canucks GM Jim Benning released a short statement on the deal:
We’re pleased to have reached a long-term deal with Conor today. He’s a skilled young player, who plays hard, produces offensively and will complement our top-six forward group.
PuckPedia provides the full contract breakdown, which does not include any trade protection:
- 2021-22: $3.75MM
- 2022-23: $4.0MM
- 2023-24: $6.0MM
- 2024-25: $6.0MM
- 2025-26: $5.0MM
It’s hard to imagine the Coyotes couldn’t have afforded this contract for Garland, which buys out three UFA seasons at a pretty reasonable price. Instead, they used Garland’s upside as a way to get out of Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s contract, all for the benefit of the Canucks. The 25-year-old has been the most important forward in Arizona for the last two years, registering 39 points in just 49 games this season. Shifty, creative and skilled, the 5’10” Garland should step directly into the Canucks’ top-six and make an impact offensively.
For just under $5MM, the Canucks can’t afford him to take a step backward, given how much other money they’ll have to commit elsewhere. This is the player they’ve decided to invest in, as a good chunk of their remaining camp space will be owed to Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, both restricted free agents waiting on new contracts. If the team can get a deal done to send Nate Schmidt packing they’ll have a little more to spend, but there are legitimate depth issues all over the roster that need to be filled as well.
So Garland is the play, and he’s certainly a good one to bet on right now. He not only excelled with increased responsibility in Arizona, but then went and dominated at the recent World Championships as part of Team USA. In ten games, he scored six goals and 13 points, trailing only Connor Brown in tournament scoring.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Speaking as a Canucks fan, I’m pleased Garland is on the team. If only we had Toffoli and Garland instead of Pearson and a Virtanen buy-out.
@secretsatan – I’d add Chris Tanev to that list, just for his influence on Quinn Hughes…
Taney is not worth the contract Calgary gave him.
That’s not true at all Tanev and Markstrom were 2 of the few good players on the flames last year
Boy, they’re really expecting the cap to go up, aren’t they? Garland’s a good player, but is he worth $5 million?
I could tell you living in AZ watching the coyotes games, YES absolutely! For only 5 million a year. At times he was the coyotes only offense.
Sad that getting rid of OEL’ s albatross contract cost us Garland.
Yeah I think it’s a pretty good contract honestly.
Let’s hope this is Bennings lasting good move….can’t imagine he’s around for much longer
That’s a whole bunch too much for Garland. wow