But Garland, unencumbered by trade restrictions ahead of the six-year, $36-million extension that starts July 1, was the most tradeable big piece that Allvin had.<\/p>\n
The Canucks traded Garland because they could.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the flexibility we had here,\u201d Allvin told Sportsnet Friday morning. \u201cThis was not our intention to move on from Conor when we signed him last summer. But where we\u2019re sitting here today and how the season has gone, we decided to go in a different direction and we felt this was a good deal for us and for him. But it\u2019s always hard to trade players that have been part of an organization for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike Allvin\u2019s first three NHL trades this winter, the return for Garland feels modest, especially since a frenzy of insider reports this week \u2014 allegedly up to eight teams bidding on the winger who turns 30 next week \u2014 raised hopes in the market of another first-round pick coming to the Canucks.<\/p>\n
Allvin declined Friday to comment on the number of teams that made offers on Garland except to say: \u201cYou only need one team to make a deal, and this was the best offer we had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the unpopular Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade that brought him to Vancouver from the Arizona Coyotes in 2001, Garland\u2019s standing on the team was often as volatile as the Canucks\u2019 performance.<\/p>\n
He was frequently rumoured in trades and bounced around the lineup before establishing himself under former coach Rick Tocchet, who knew and believed in Garland from their time together in Phoenix, as a reliable, play-driving winger who could power a third line.<\/p>\n
Allvin re-signed Garland on July 1 after a 19-goal, 50-point season, the American\u2019s fourth straight campaign of 46 to 52 points, to be part of the Canucks core as the team planned to rebound from last year\u2019s injuries and upheaval.<\/p>\n
Garland has just seven goals and 26 points in 50 games this season, and last scored on Dec. 16, two games after the stunning trade of Hughes to Minnesota changed everything for the Canucks.<\/p>\n
Always accountable and often self-deprecating, Garland recently laughed at himself for failing to get trade protection in his expiring contract.<\/p>\n
It took a week for the Allvin to close the Myers trade on Wednesday due to the defenceman\u2019s no-movement clause. On Thursday, St. Louis Blues defenceman Colton Parayko used his trade protection to scuttle a deal with the Buffalo Sabres.<\/p>\n
Garland\u2019s lack of trade protection set him apart from senior teammates and gave Allvin a significant chip to play. At least Garland gets to go to a Columbus team whose 4-2 win Thursday night against the Florida Panthers moved it within one point of a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference and within three points of three other teams in playoff position.<\/p>\n
From the Boston area, Garland is also much closer to home, where his wife, Meghan, is expecting the couple\u2019s second child in late April.<\/p>\n
With a relentless motor and that hunger players develop when they\u2019ve had to battle for their NHL existence, Garland will help the Blue Jackets and should provide solid value well into his 30s.<\/p>\n
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