Why Canucks Conor Garland Should Be In The 2024-25 Selke Trophy Conversation

Conor Garland has had a strong start to the 2024-25 season. The right-winger sits tied for second on the team in points with four and has arguably been the team's best forward through the first five games of the season. While most will focus on his offensive numbers, Garland's work in the defensive zone deserves a ton of praise as he has been one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL so far this year.

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After five games, Garland leads the Canucks forward group in most defensive categories. He also has some of the best defensive analytics amongst forwards in the league. Here is a look at some of Garland's analytics compared to forwards who have played at least 60 five-on-five minutes as of October 19, 2024.

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Garland has also been strong while shorthanded so far this season. Through five games, he has played 2:34 on the penalty kill, with Vancouver only surrendering one shot on goal. The most impressive statistic, however, is that according to NHL EDGE, 57.1% of his zone time, while shorthanded, has come in the offensive zone. Garland's ability to win board battles and kill time while on the penalty kill has been a major asset for the Canucks, and is one of the reasons the team has a kill percentage of over 80% to start the season.

When watching Garland play, one thing that stands out this season is his willingness to block shots. This is also evident in his counting stats, as he has already been credited with four blocked shots and is well on his way to surpassing his career-high of 34. His dedication to getting in front of shots has also led to some indecisiveness from the opposition, forcing the opposing player to reposition before taking the shot. While there may not be a counting stat for this type of play, Garland's ability to get into shooting lanes and create a disturbance has been almost as beneficial as blocking a shot.

While it is still early, a case can be made that Garland should be in the Frank J. Selke Trophy conversation this year. According to the Hockey Hall of Fame's website, the trophy is given to "the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game," which he has been up to this point. If Garland can continue his strong play at both ends of the ice, he should receive plenty of votes for the historic trophy at the end of the season.