Conor Garland

Don Waddell, the Blue Jackets' president of hockey operations and GM who has steered Columbus from the basement to playoff contention with moves like snagging Conor Garland at the deadline, joins NHL Now to break it all down. The guy who turned a five-year postseason drought into a legit wild-card push under Rick Bowness now fields questions on his aggressive buys and the Olympic break chats that kept his core intact.

Columbus clings to wildcard hopes with 16 games left, and every shift counts in their do-or-die sprint. A hot point streak fuels the fire while Conor Garland's impact emerges as the X-factor scouts whisper about in front offices. Their week-ahead schedule packs storylines that could swing the standings, testing if this roster finally turns the corner.

Panarin returns to Madison Square Garden and shares a fist bump with the MSG reporter, a nod to old rivalries reignited. Moments like these remind you of the personal stakes woven into every Rangers-Rangers matchup. Artemi's poise in familiar territory underscores why he's the Bread Man's heartbeat for New York.

Charlie Coyle joins NHL Now to dish on Conor Garland's fit and the Blue Jackets' surprising surge. Coyle knows the Eastern grind better than most after years battling in it. Columbus clings to that wildcard dream, and Garland's addition tests whether they can sustain the momentum into April.

Connor McDavid fires a shot across the league's bow, calling for a full audit of the NHL's suspension process after his own three-game ban for cross-checking Conor Garland. Sources inside the Oilers locker room whisper that frustration boiled over from a scrum where Garland held him down in the dying minutes against Vancouver, yet only McDavid drew the match penalty while Canucks' Tyler Myers got the same suspension for a similar hit on Evan Bouchard.

Conor Garland wastes no time proving Don Waddell right, torching nets with four goals in his first three games for the Blue Jackets and fitting seamlessly alongside Kent Johnson and Sean Monahan. The feisty winger from the Canucks trade brings the tenacity and two-way grit that Columbus has craved during their playoff push, especially after snatching him from under the Islanders' noses.