Garland shines with undefeated U.S., Myers scores a big goal for Canada
Conor Garland is lighting it up at the World Hockey Championship.
In the big picture, what does that really mean for NHL job security?
The Vancouver Canucks winger has been constant fodder for the rumour mill as a veteran deemed expendable in a trade to lessen the glut of wingers and create salary-cap space.
On Tuesday, that speculation was shoved to the back burner because he proved he has plenty of game.
It wasn't the Stanley Cup Playoffs proving ground, but it is something of significance. Garland has two goals and five assists to help the U.S. remain undefeated through seven games and finish Group A as the top seed for Thursday's quarterfinal rounds.
The Americans earned that placing Tuesday with a 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden in which Garland found the net.
Dylan Samberg scored at 1:07 of the extra session after the U.S. had squandered a 3-1 lead in the third period. The Americans won group play by previously topping Finland (4-1), Hungary (7-1), Germany (32), Austria (4-1) and France (9-0).
The U.S. hasn't claimed a world title since 1933, so a magical tournament isn't lost on Garland, who often just lets his play do most of the talking.
“We feel good about our game,” he told reporters. “We're focused and we're excited. We know what's at stake and we've given ourselves a good opportunity to accomplish our goal.”
The world tournament is an annual fan-friendly event and a European bucket-list adventure for hockey faithful. For many players, it's a chance to keep playing to ease the sting of not advancing through the NHL playoffs.
“Any time you get to the medal round at the world championship, you deserve to be there,” said U.S. centre Nick Bonino, a former Canuck. “It doesn't matter which team we face. If it's Latvia, we're going to their home rink. And if it's Slovakia, they took Canada to a shootout and can beat anybody.
“So, we'll be ready and see what happens.”
Actually, Nick, it's Czechia on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Tyler Myers wore the hero's crown for Canada on Tuesday.
The Canucks defenceman scored the winning goal with just over four minutes remaining in regulation time in a 3-1 win over Czechia to conclude preliminary-round play.
Peyton Krebs and Lawson Crouse's empty-netter were other Canadian goals. Next up is co-tournament host and defending champion Finland in a Thursday quarterfinal.
IS CONROY TIPPING COACHING HAND?
The always-talkative Craig Conroy had a lot to say Tuesday in officially becoming rookie general manager of the Calgary Flames.
Among pressing issues for Conroy is to name a head coach to replace the fired Darryl Sutter.
He will rely on input from his hockey operations staff, which includes former Canucks GM Dave Nonis in the dual role of senior vice-president of operations and assistant GM. He will work in concert with Conroy to find the right bench boss.
“I want somebody who is a leader,” said Conroy. “You want that passion and be a visionary and we'll see if we can do that. It doesn't have to be an experienced coach in the NHL, or somebody with limited coaching.”
An in-house promotion could mean it goes to long-serving Flames assistant coach Ryan Huska, who has paid his dues in the NHL and AHL. There is club associate coach Kirk Muller, who has been a head coach in Carolina and assistant in Montreal and St. Louis. And there's current AHL affiliate head coach Mitch Love.
“Players want to know the why, and you have to make the environment a fun place to be,” added Conroy.
“If you're happy and working hard, you're going to put your best foot forward and win more games than not.
“We've got to move quickly. We want to get the right person as coach and go through the process and interview more candidates than we thought at the beginning. Dave has some names.” Would one be Travis Green? He's a candidate and understands the fishbowl existence of working in a Canadian market. He has coached Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev, Tyler Toffoli and unrestricted free agent Troy Stecher. And he knows how to work with younger players.
He threw Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes into the deep end of the NHL reality pool and they responded with Calder Trophy nominations.
Green also guided the Canucks to a memorable 2020 playoff run in the Edmonton bubble and the Utica Comets to the 2015 Calder Cup final.