Conor Garland
A relentless, undersized winger who carved out a lasting NHL career through sheer tenacity and a knack for clutch plays.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: March 11·Millennials
Biography
Conor Garland’s path to the NHL was a study in overcoming expectations. Born in Scituate, Massachusetts, his smaller stature led many scouts to overlook him, but his production in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was impossible to ignore. Drafted in the fifth round by the Arizona Coyotes, he turned professional with a point to prove. In Arizona, he blossomed into a reliable top-six forward, using his agility and competitive edge to become a fan favorite. A trade to the Vancouver Canucks saw him become a key piece of their middle-six, providing consistent secondary scoring and energetic shifts. His journey, marked by a dogged work ethic, exemplifies how determination can rewrite a player’s destiny in the modern game.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Conor was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Conor Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Conor's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a career-high 39 points in the 2021-22 NHL season with the Vancouver Canucks.
- Recorded 22 goals and 39 assists in his final QMJHL season, leading the Moncton Wildcats in scoring.
- Played in over 400 NHL games despite being a fifth-round draft selection.
- Became a consistent top-nine forward for multiple NHL franchises, including the Coyotes and Canucks.
Did You Know?
He played his junior hockey for the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, where he was named league MVP in 2014-15.
Garland is known for his distinctive, hunched-over skating style.
He was traded from Arizona to Vancouver in a deal that also sent Oliver Ekman-Larsson to the Canucks.
“They told me I was too small, so I just worked harder.”
