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Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Conor Garland

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Jayd Serdy | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 10:49 AM ET

The official first trade of deadline day saw Conor Garland head from the Vancouver Canucks to the Columbus Blue Jackets. This move came after reports that teams were in on Garland, but that “Columbus was in the driver’s seat”. The return from the Blue Jackets included a 2026 third-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. This brings Vancouver’s upcoming draft picks to: two in the first round, two in the second round, and one each in rounds three through six during the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

“Conor is a versatile player who brings great energy to the lineup every night. He has tremendous character, plays a reliable two-way game and will be an important part of our club now and in the future.” – Columbus Blue Jackets Genera Manager Don Waddell

The Blue Jackets currently sit one point out of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. They have 72 points on the season with a 32-21-8 record.

Conor Garland

Conor Garland was drafted 123rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He played with the Coyotes for three seasons before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks on July 23, 2021, and signing a six-year $36 million contract with the Canucks on July 1, 2025, set to kick in ahead of the 2026-27 season. Throughout Garland’s career, he has only played one full 82-game season during the 2023-24 season with a career high in points during the 2021-22 season.

This season, Garland has appeared in 50 games with seven goals and 19 points. He tends to slot in on the first line as a right-wing, but will likely end up playing on the second line with the Blue Jackets, given that Kirill Marchenko has been a staple on that first line.

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This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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