It’s been a long road to get to this point for Conor Garland. Brought to Vancouver three years ago, at the start of the 2023-24 season, it looked like the diminutive winger had one foot out the door after some individually productive but rough team seasons.

That narrative turned on its head after the first couple of months of the season. Finding a home on the Thirst Line alongside Dakota Joshua and Teddy Blueger, Garland might’ve taken a step back in production but found his seamless fit, helping the Canucks to their most successful season since the 2020 COVID bubble run.

Now on the heels of training camp for the 2024-25 season, another step is the expectation.

“We went to game seven of the second round, so our expectations are higher,” Garland said. “We also have to get back to that, and then we want to get beyond as a team… We understood how hard we played from Game one to 82. We’re all pushing, trying to get in the best shape as we can, and trying to get the system as fast as we can.

“You have to push each other. You know you have to, whether it’s in a drill and practice in the middle of season or today, you got to make sure guys are going as hard as they can. And if they’re not, you try to exploit each other, because we got to push each other. We all have to get better as a team, whether it’s just in shape or detail skill structure, whatever you can get better at another level.

“You should never be complacent in this league as a player or a team.”

This training camp was also one that Garland entered being a more established member of this Canucks team. That didn’t seem likely, for the team or the player up until last season.

“I would say the first two years, I didn’t have a role, I came in and it’s kind of an awkward trade, they had a bunch of wingers already came in just trying to find a place. I wasn’t on special teams, playing lower in the lineup, and you just really didn’t feel valued as a player.”

Being the competitor that he is, not being able to have an influence on the outcome of games frustrated Garland. But when Rick Tocchet took the helm, that started to change.

“We kind of carved out a role for me, and it’s to be a pretty good third line in this league and help out on the special teams now. You just feel valued, you feel like you got to be at your best each and every night to help your team win, and as a player, that’s all you can ask for. Whether it’s fourth-line, PK, or face-offs or something, you just want to have that feeling of I need to come in and help this team win. And last year I got that, so you just feel better about your game.

“You feel better about yourself as a player and a person.”

It’s clear that Tocchet trusts Garland to fill that role and then some. His versatility was on display as the winger was slotted beside a variety of combinations, with his usual conspirators out with injuries. That hasn’t slowed the shifty winger down at all.

“I just try to play my game. I think I’m at my best when my feet are moving and I’m hard to play against,” he said. “Tracking and hunting pucks and my natural ability of being able to make a few plays from below the goal line or off the rush.”

“Whether I’m with [Aatu Räty] Ratty or [Elias Pettersson] Petey or Teddy [Blueger] or Pew [Pius Suter], it doesn’t really matter. My game doesn’t change. You just try to be an easy player to play with,” Garland said. “Obviously, found chemistry with Dak and Teddy last year, and very well could be those guys again this year. But whoever you play with, I just feel like, if you know I’m at my best, you can help. You can help any line.”

That showed in the scrimmage on Sunday, with Garland all over the ice making plays. It included a beauty of a goal that made the difference for Team Blue, showing that he has more than a little influence on the outcome of games now.

“Really cool environment for us to come in, really fun walking around the city, interacting with the fans and how excited they were to have us here. It’s just pretty cool to see different types of places in the province and just see the support we have all the way out here,” Garland said.

“We’re just focused on getting ready for the first day.”