Conor Garland

January 2019- With injuries hitting the Coyotes hard, the team needed a spark and they’ve gotten that and more from Garland. He has six goals in his last four games, including scoring in four straight now, a Coyotes team rookie record. In a game against Edmonton Oilers on January 11th, he scored what might be one of the toughest goals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32IoS2ze2Lk of the season. Garland was cross-checked in the back by a Oilers defenseman, then took a 68 MPH shot to his left temple. By the time the puck crossed the goal line, Garland was bleeding pretty badly all over the ice. Ten stitches later he was still bleeding but still did a intermission interview with FOX Sports Arizona. Then returning to the game Garland scored another goal, the game-winner for the Coyotes. Earning himself a place in the AHL All-Star Classic with his strong play for Tucson earlier in the year, it seems doubtful he returns to the AHL anytime soon with the way Garland has played with the Coyotes so far. Keith Duggan

December 2018- Leading the Tucson Roadrunners in scoring, Garland forced the Coyotes to recall him when the team hit injury issues. In nine games with Arizona, Garland hasn’t looked out of place at all, scoring two goals and showing excellent speed in the lineup. He’s played mostly bottom six role but has seen himself play on the top line at times. After looking like a long shot to make the NHL a few years ago, Garland is starting to come along very well. Keith Duggan

October 2018- After an excellent training camp with the Coyotes which saw him stick deep into camp, Garland has gotten off to a very strong start to the 2018-19 season. Now in his third year of pro, his speed, strength and balance look much improved from prior campaigns. After a weekend that saw Garland rack up seven points in two games, he now stands at 14th in AHL scoring with 11 points in seven games. Keith Duggan

June 2018- Garland didn’t even come close to the offensive numbers he put up in juniors, but his sophomore campaign saw improvements from the prior year. While his eight goals and 27 points were double what he put up in his rookie pro season, they still weren’t exactly huge numbers. But his play on the ice was much more noticeable as Garland was like a water bug, zipping around, always in on the forecheck and creating turnovers for his linemates. He also saw a marked improvement in his two-way play, getting more trust from the coaching squad. Still seems a few years off from potentially earning a NHL job but Garland is trending up, just don’t expect the big scorer he was in junior. Keith Duggan

July 2017- Life in the pro ranks proved much harder for Garland as the offensive wizard struggled. He did show signs of improving though as Garland racked up seven points in his final 12 games, half of 2016-17 seasons production (14 points in 55 games). Don’t expect a huge improvement but do expect for Garland to play a bigger role in Tucson during 2017-18 but seems he’s still a long way from seeing NHL duty. Keith Duggan

February 2017- The skilled but diminutive Garland has struggled in his first pro season, putting up just two goals and seven points in 41 games with Tucson of the AHL. After leading the CHL in points the last two seasons, Garland has found the AHL a whole different animal, especially with his size (5-8, 163 pounds) and lack of pro experience. “A guy like him, he’s all offense” Tucson head coach Mark Lamb recently said. “You just led the league two years in a row, that’s all you’ve done is created offense and this league’s just too good. You have to play a complete game and he’s making strides in that area, but it’s hard for some guys. It’s going to take a lot more time.” Keith Duggan

June 2016- In Conor Garland’s last season of junior, he produced his second straight dominate offensive year, leading the CHL in points with 39 goals and 128 points in 62 games. For the second straight season he led the QMJHL in points also, this year by a whopping 20-point margin along with his 89 assists far and wide ahead of anyone else. Playing with feistiness to his game, his 97 PIM’s were good for 12th in the QMJHL. Moncton had a good playoff run, losing in six games in the QMJHL semifinals to eventual champion Rouyn-Noranda. A little concerning with tighter checking, Garland did not rack up the points like usual with a very mortal five goals and 15 points in 17 games. He’s pegged to begin his pro career in 2016-17 with the Coyotes new AHL team in Tucson. Keith Duggan

January 2016- On January 19th, in his 42nd game of the year, Conor Garland put up a goal and assist to become the first CHLer to reach 100 points this season. He currently has 30 more points than the next highest scorer in the QMJHL. Keith Duggan

December 2015- The Coyotes have signed Conor Garland to a three-year, entry level contract. He cuurently leads the QMJHL in points with 80 after posting 21 goals and 59 assists in just 33 games- 22 more points than the next player. He’s accumulated at least one point in all but one game and has multi-point efforts in 25 games. Keith Duggan

November 2015- Conor Garland has been named QMJHL first star of the week for November 23 to 29. He scored four goals and added seven assists in three games. Garland has scored a point in 24 consecutive games now and is currently leading the QMJHL with 58 points in 24 games. Keith Duggan

October 2015- It’s been an eventful couple weeks for Coyotes prospect Conor Garland. He impressed Coyotes brass with his skill during rookie and main training camp but was returned to the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL for another year of seasoning. Garland has gotten right back to work, tearing up the league for 13 points in four games. He earned CHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 4th after scoring four goals and three assists in two games. Also during one of those two games, Garland suffered a concussion after hitting his head on the ice during a fight. The injury does not seem to be too concerning since he could be back playing again this weekend. Keith Duggan

June 2015- The Arizona Coyotes took a gamble on Conor Garland, the QMJHL’s top scorer in 2014-15, drafting him in the fifth round, 123rd overall. The 19 year-old was the co-recipient of the CHL Shermin-Williams Top Scorer Award along with fellow Coyotes 2015 draft pick Dylan Strome. Why is he a gamble and taken in the fifth round? His size, 5-8, 163 pounds. Keith Duggan

June 2015 – Garland went undrafted in the 2014 draft and showed teams that they made the wrong decision. Not only was Garland a first all-star team member in the QMJHL, he was awarded the Jean Beliveau trophy, awarded to the player with most points; the Michel Brière trophy, awarded to the most valuable player; and was the overall top scorer in the CHL. With 125 points including 94 assists, tops in the Q, Garland continued his offensive success into the playoffs where he posted 22 assists to go along with three goals in 16 games. Scoring isn’t new to Garland, he posted 116 points in 52 games at Shattuck’s Saint Mary’s in his single year there, and in 2013-14 hetallied 54 points in 52 QMJHL games for Moncton. Garland pulls off passes that force you to hit the replay button and his quickness and speed is up with the better QMJHL players as well; add that to his hockey IQ and you get what many think was the most exciting player in the Q last season. Unlike the reputation of offensive juggernauts in the Q in past years Garland plays a two hundred foot game and believes the best offense starts with defense. Benjamin Gallant