When a player gets traded twice in three seasons, it’s easy to focus on the numbers in the contract and forget there’s a real person behind the jersey. Conor Garland’s path from a small Massachusetts town to the NHL includes a scoring title in juniors, a big-money extension, and a recent move to Columbus – along with a new role as a dad. This article separates the verified facts of his contract and trade history from the softer personal details that have emerged in interviews.

Team: Columbus Blue Jackets ·
Position: Right wing ·
Height/Weight: 5 ft 10 in, 165 lb ·
Birthdate: March 11, 1996 (age 30) ·
Birthplace: Scituate, Massachusetts, USA ·
Cap hit: $6,000,000 per season

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Son’s name: reportedly Ford, but not officially confirmed in public sources (Sportsnet)
  • Quinn Hughes as godfather: claimed by some reports, but unverified (Sportsnet)
  • Future trade possibilities given contract length and cap hit (Sportsnet)
  • Existence of a no‑movement clause in his contract (Sportsnet)
3Timeline signal
  • 2021 – Signed five‑year, $24.75 million contract with Canucks (CapWages (contract database))
  • 2024 – Son born (Sportsnet)
  • 2025-07-01 – Signed six‑year, $36 million extension with Canucks (NHL.com/Canucks)
  • 2026-03-06 – Traded to Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL.com)
4What’s next

Seven key facts, one pattern: every number in Garland’s career – from draft position to cap hit – tells a story of a player who outperformed his draft slot and then rode a volatile trade market.

Detail Value
Full name Conor Garland
Born March 11, 1996
Birthplace Scituate, Massachusetts, USA
Position Right wing
Current team Columbus Blue Jackets
Contract 6 years, $36 million (NHL.com/Canucks)
Children 1 son (Sportsnet)

How many children does Conor Garland have?

  • Conor Garland has one son, born in 2024 (Sportsnet).
  • Reportedly named Ford Garland, though the name has not been officially confirmed in public records.
  • Quinn Hughes is rumored to be the godfather, but this also remains unverified.

What this means: the private side of Garland’s life is only partly public. The confirmed fact is a growing family; the details of name and godparent are still soft information.

What did Conor Garland name his son?

  • According to some reports, Garland and his wife named their son Ford (Sportsnet).
  • The name was reportedly shared through Quinn Hughes in a media interview, but no direct confirmation from Garland himself or his wife exists in public records.
Bottom line: Conor Garland is a father of one son. The child’s name is widely reported as Ford, but fans should treat that detail as unconfirmed until it appears in official or player‑shared channels.

The gap between reported and confirmed details underscores the need for caution when relying on secondary sources in Garland’s personal life.

Is Conor Garland a free agent?

  • No. Garland is signed to a six‑year, $36 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets (Puckpedia).
  • His original five‑year Canucks contract was followed by a six‑year extension signed July 1, 2025 (NHL.com/Canucks).
  • That extension runs through the 2030-31 season, so he is not eligible for free agency in the near term.
The catch

Garland’s $6 million cap hit and long term make him a challenging trade asset. Columbus inherited a contract that exceeds what many teams are willing to pay for a winger with a career high of 19 goals (NHL.com).

Why this matters: Garland is locked in through age 35. For a player who turns 30 in March 2026, the length of the deal could become a burden for the Blue Jackets if his production declines.

What is Conor Garland’s current salary?

  • Garland’s annual salary is $6,000,000 (CapWages).
  • His total contract value is $36,000,000 over six years (Puckpedia).
  • The numbers are identical across multiple contract databases, giving high confidence in the figure.
The trade‑off

For $6 million a year, Columbus expects at least 40‑50 points per season. Garland has hit that mark twice in his career (NHL.com). If he underperforms, the Blue Jackets will struggle to move his cap hit without retaining salary or adding assets.

Did the Canucks trade Conor Garland?

  • Yes. The Vancouver Canucks traded Conor Garland to the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 6, 2026 (NHL.com).
  • The trade sent Garland and two draft picks to Columbus in exchange for a package from the Blue Jackets (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
  • Both NHL.com and ESPN confirmed the trade, and Sportsnet quoted Vancouver saying it appreciated his work for the club (Sportsnet).

The implication: Garland has now been traded twice in three years – first from Arizona to Vancouver (2021), then from Vancouver to Columbus (2026). His contract, not his play, appears to be the driver in each move.

Career timeline

The pattern

Garland’s timeline shows a player who out‑scored his draft position but has never found long‑term stability. Every time his cap hit escalated, a team decided to move on.

  • 2015 – Drafted 123rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes.
  • 2019-20 – Made NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes.
  • 2021-07-27 – Signed five‑year, $24.75 million contract with Vancouver Canucks (CapWages).
  • 2024 – Son born (Sportsnet).
  • 2025-07-01 – Signed six‑year, $36 million contract extension with Canucks (NHL.com/Canucks).
  • 2026-03-06 – Traded to Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL.com).

Every time his cap hit escalated, a team decided to move on, confirming the pattern of contract-driven turnover.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Garland has one son (born 2024) (Sportsnet).
  • His annual cap hit is $6,000,000 (CapWages).
  • He was traded from Vancouver to Columbus on March 6, 2026 (NHL.com).
  • He signed a six‑year extension on July 1, 2025 (NHL.com/Canucks).

What’s unclear

  • Son’s name (reported as Ford, not confirmed).
  • Quinn Hughes as godfather (rumored, not verified).
  • Details of any no‑movement clause in his contract.
  • Future trade interest from other teams.

This separation helps readers distinguish between verified and speculative information about Garland.

What Conor Garland and others have said

“It’s the greatest experience ever.”

Conor Garland, reflecting on becoming a father (Sportsnet)

“We appreciate Conor’s contributions and wish him the best in Columbus.”

Vancouver Canucks statement, via Sportsnet (Sportsnet)

For the Columbus Blue Jackets, the decision to acquire Garland’s $6 million cap hit is a bet on his scoring ability, but they must navigate his contract length and the possibility that his no‑movement clause (if it exists) limits future trade options. For Garland, the immediate consequence is clear: prove his worth in Columbus, or risk being moved again.

Related reading: **Jakob Chychrun: Salary, Stats, and Dual Citizenship** · **Steven Adams: Bio, Injury, Family, Net Worth & Stats (2025)**

Frequently asked questions

What position does Conor Garland play?

Right wing.

How tall is Conor Garland?

5 ft 10 in (178 cm).

Where did Conor Garland play junior hockey?

He played for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, where he led the league in points (129) in 2014-15.

Was Conor Garland a high draft pick?

No, he was selected 123rd overall in the 5th round of the 2015 NHL Draft (NHL.com).

How many goals did Conor Garland score in his NHL debut season?

He scored 13 goals in 68 games during the 2019-20 season (NHL.com).

These stats provide baseline context for evaluating Garland’s career production.