Garland says former Vancouver Canucks teammate has to pack and send his stuff to Columbus
NHL trades have a trickle down affect.
Some are predictable, as families need to relocate on the fly, while ex-teammates lament the fact that they’ve lost a locker room brother.
However, there can be some surprising, unintended consequences after a player is dealt.
At least, that’s what happened to one of Conor Garland’s teammates.
The former Canucks winger took the ice for the first time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he’ll play his first game for the club on Saturday against the Utah Mammoth.
Garland talked to the media in Columbus about the trade, where he explained that one of his former Canucks teammates will have some work to do back in Vancouver.
“I had one of the younger guys living in my apartment downstairs in Vancouver,” Garland said. “He didn’t have to pay rent this year, so his payment will be he has to pack up some stuff for me and send it out.”
He was then asked which younger teammate was tasked with the assignment.
“Yeah, Max Sasson,” Garland said. “He’ll be busy tomorrow.”
Tough gig for Max Sasson, who’s currently on the road with the Canucks. Vancouver plays the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday before returning home for a game on Monday against the Ottawa Senators.
Sasson became a full-time NHLer this season, even though he didn’t make the Canucks out of camp. He played two AHL games before his recall on Oct. 14, and he hasn’t looked back.
One of the reasons why Sasson has been tasked with the packing job is because Garland didn’t have much of an inclination that he would be dealt.
“I had no clue or inkling of anything happening until I landed in Chicago around 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. [on Thursday],” he said.
“If I had known, I would have packed a lot more clothes.”
Although he admitted learning about the trade late in the process, he said that the transition hadn’t been all that chaotic.
“Vancouver helped a bunch,” he revealed in his presser with Columbus media.
Well, despite Canucks management having some faults, there’s evidence that they have been helpful to players who are exiting the team.
While the trade was certainly a whirlwind, Garland talked about his excitement for joining the Blue Jackets.
“I’m from Boston,” he said. “This is pretty close to home.”
“I’ll have two kids in the summer and be closer to my parents, and my wife’s parents…it’s something pretty special.”
“Very excited to be back in the States and be on a good team,” he said. “It’s all I could ask for.”
Garland will wear No. 83 for the Blue Jackets, a number he previously wore when playing for the Arizona Coyotes.
His former jersey number, No. 8, is taken by the Blue Jackets’ best player, Zach Werenski.
At morning skate in Columbus on Saturday, Garland slotted in on the Jackets’ second line, alongside Kent Johnson and Sean Monahan. He also skated on their second power play unit with Johnson, Monahan, Ivan Provorov, and Damon Severson.
Columbus is currently three points out of a playoff spot, but they’re the second-hottest team in the Eastern Conference right now, winning eight of their last 10 games.