Conor Garland Speaks Candidly on Future With Canucks Amid Rebuild and Trade Rumors
Conor Garland isn’t ducking the tough questions.
The 29-year-old Vancouver Canucks forward sat down for a revealing interview on Hockey Night in Canada’s “After Hours” following the team’s 6-0 loss on Saturday. It was a rough night on the ice, but Garland didn’t shy away from the spotlight, addressing the swirling speculation about his future in Vancouver with honesty and poise.
Garland, now in his fifth season with the Canucks, has become a steady presence for the franchise. Since arriving in 2021, he’s tallied 217 points in 357 games and was a key contributor during Vancouver’s playoff push two years ago. This season, he’s notched 22 points in 36 games, with 15 assists-good for third on the team.
But with the Canucks mired in a 10-game losing streak and sitting at the bottom of the standings, questions about the team’s direction-and Garland’s role in it-are inevitable. When asked by Scott Oake whether he’d prefer to stick it out through the rebuild or be traded to a contender, Garland didn’t flinch.
“Yeah, that’s a tough question,” Garland admitted. “It’s a valid question. I think people look at something like that through the hockey lens.”
He went on to explain that his commitment to the Canucks goes beyond the rink. Garland signed a six-year extension in the 2025 offseason, a deal that doesn’t kick in until next season, and he made it clear that decision wasn’t made lightly.
“I have a great connection to the city. I enjoy playing here.
I want to get this team back to the playoffs and enjoy that feeling when you’re on the run in a city like this,” he said. “My son was born here.
My wife’s expecting another baby in April-our first daughter. That really bonds you and your family to the city.”
It was a heartfelt, grounded response-one that showed Garland isn’t just thinking about trade clauses and cap hits. He’s thinking about his family, his teammates, and what it means to be part of a community. If a trade were ever to happen, Garland made it clear it wouldn’t be a decision he’d take lightly.
“If that time comes, that’s not something I’m taking lightly or just throwing it out there that I want to move on,” he said. “It’s something that, if that process ever happened, that’d be a long, long decision-and that’s not something I’m thinking about right now. I’m thinking about our performance in two days.”
Later in the segment, Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre followed up, asking Garland if he was truly comfortable with where things stand inside the organization. Again, Garland didn’t dodge.
“I would say I’m more emotionally mature than I was at 25 or 26 when I first went through those rumors,” he said. “I think that affected my play quite a bit, having the uncertainty every day. I think I learned how to adjust to it and play with it.”
It’s a key insight into the mindset of a veteran player who’s been through the rumor mill before. Garland acknowledged the mental toll trade speculation can take, but also highlighted the growth he’s made in learning to manage that pressure. He’s found a way to stay productive, stay focused, and stay present.
“I feel like I’ve played well consistently for a couple of years here,” he added. “It really is a process.
As corny as that sounds, it’s true. I just try to go about my day, and if that decision comes from them or for me, that’s out of my control.
I do enjoy being a Vancouver Canuck. I love playing in the city, and that’s first and foremost.”
While Garland’s new contract includes trade protection, his current deal doesn’t. That means the Canucks could technically move him without restriction before July 1. With the 2026 trade deadline set for March 6, and team president Jim Rutherford making it clear that the organization is open for business, Garland’s name will likely continue to surface in trade talks.
Still, if Saturday night’s interview told us anything, it’s that Garland isn’t looking for the exit. He’s focused on the here and now-on helping the Canucks turn things around, on growing with his family in Vancouver, and on earning another shot at playoff hockey in a city he’s come to call home.
For a team in transition, having a player like Garland-steady, self-aware, and committed-might be more valuable than ever.