Canucks: Why Conor Garland savours swimming in NHL's shark ...

16 days ago

The Province

Garland is a responsible, speedy, creative and disruptive winger who chipped in offensively with 20 goals last season. He can do more

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Published Oct 01, 2024 • 4 minute read

Conor Garland, left, and Dakota Joshua became effective linemates and close friends last season to help propel the Canucks to the post-season. Photo by Patrick Smith /Getty Images

Conor Garland doesn’t mind swimming in the NHL’s shark-infested waters. He actually prefers it.

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The Vancouver Canucks’ mighty mite right winger, who gained a fascination with sharks and the movie Jaws while growing up near the Atlantic Ocean in Scituate, Mass., knows apex predators like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl possess power, speed and strength to put the bite on your Stanley Cup aspirations.

Same with others who know the defending Pacific Division champions have become the hunted instead of the hunters following a 109-point season and nearly advancing to the Western Conference final last spring.

And when the Canucks start playing for keeps on Oct. 9, they’ll rely on Garland’s ability to adapt, create, finish and frustrate the opposition after putting up 20 goals and 47 points in 2023-24. It came with chemistry on a popular ‘Meat and Potatoes Line’ with Dakota Joshua and Teddy Blueger. Joshua was the meat, Blueger the potatoes, and Garland the gravy.

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However, with Joshua recovering from a testicular cancer diagnosis and Blueger returning after an off-season lower-body ailment, it’s possible that Garland will have Nils Hoglander as his left winger. Garland has skated with Aatu Raty and Hoglander in camp and the pre-season, so he’ll be called upon to do what’s expected from a third line — forecheck and contribute.

And when Joshua, 28, does return, a reunion with Garland, 28, and Blueger, 30, could be in the cards. In the interim, it’s about supporting Joshua through his trying period and the mental challenge of remaining positive.

“He called me to know what happened and I was devastated,” Garland recalled Tuesday. “It’s a weird thing to hear, especially when someone is that young. It’s just being there for him if he needs anything. I have to be careful because I want him back soon.

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“He has to make sure he’s mentally and physically ready because he’s such a big part of our team. It (cancer) is a touchy subject with the seriousness of it all and you just try to get his mind off it.”

Vancouver Canucks’ Conor Garland (8) puts a glove to the face of Calgary Flames’ Connor Zary during third period NHL pre-season hockey action in Calgary, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo by Larry MacDougal /The Canadian Press

The 6-foot-3, 206 pound Joshua hit career highs last season for goals (18) and points (32) in 63 games with a willingness to get to the net and show off some soft hands. He led the club in regular-season hits (244) — ranking ninth overall in the league — and also led the Canucks in the post-season (74).

Joshua was a key cog in a vastly improved penalty kill that had 79.1-per-cent efficiency in the regular season and 81 per cent in the post-season. And most importantly, he measured up in the playoffs with eight points (4-4) in 13 games. He earned a four-year contract extension in June with a US$3.25 million annual average value.

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As for Garland, who’s closer to 5-foot-8 than that 5-foot-10 player bio, he measures up in a big man’s game with a fearless and direct approach. And while many loathe the pre-season, it was his ticket to the NHL.

“I made the league by having a good pre-season,” he said. “It put my name in the hat to be the first call-up (in Arizona) and I never went back. There is a need for it (pre-season) because guys need to earn their jobs and others have to fight for one.”

And even though Garland has established himself here and has two years left on his contract at a US$4.95 million salary cap hit, he doesn’t take anything for granted. The Canucks considered moving him at the outset of last season and he responded in the best possible way.

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“Especially as a smaller guy, you never have a guarantee,” stressed Garland. “I remember Tocc (coach Rick Tocchet) telling me after my second year when I had 22 goals and came in a little cocky. He just said you have to earn it every day and he’s spot on.

“I’ve learned from that and I’m going into Year 4 here and I couldn’t be happier.”

J.T. Miller is checked by Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers during a game on Nov. 6, 2023. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty ImagesMiller is ‘taking care of something’

J.T. Miller responded Tuesday on what he’s been dealing with during the pre-season. The centre has practised and has yet to play but will take the ice Friday against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena.

“I’ve just been trying to take care of something and not forcing it and we’ve had the luxury of some time over the past two weeks to try and be smart,” he said. “I should be good to go Friday.”

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Miller wouldn’t say whether he had tweaked something.

“I’ve just been taking care off myself and not forcing anything,” he repeated. “That’s being as honest as I can.”

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