NHL Rumors: Canucks Changing Their Stance On Conor Garland

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland plays the puck during 2026 game.

The Vancouver Canucks appear to be shifting their position on Conor Garland as the NHL trade deadline approaches, indicating an interesting change in direction as the organization leans further into a rebuild.

For weeks, the message around the league was that Vancouver valued Garland’s leadership and energy and had little interest in moving him.

Now, CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reports the tone has changed, and the Canucks are no longer opposed to dealing the veteran winger if the right offer comes along.

Canucks Now Open to Moving Conor Garland

According to multiple reports, teams had been calling on Garland for weeks, but Vancouver was largely holding firm and only listening out of due diligence. 

That stance appears to have softened. With the March 6 deadline looming, the organization is now viewed as open to moving the 29-year-old.

Garland’s six-year, $36 million extension kicks in on July 1 and includes a full no-move clause for the first three years. 

If the Canucks want flexibility, this deadline represents one of their final easy opportunities to move him without needing his approval. That contract structure, combined with a roster that is trending younger, has increased the urgency around a potential deal.

Since joining the Canucks in the 2021-22 season, Garland has recorded 82 goals and 220 total points across 367 games.

Rebuild Direction Driving Garland Trade Buzz

Vancouver’s front office is under pressure to show it is serious about reshaping the roster, and moving a productive player with term would send a strong message about the long-term plan. 

Canucks are firmly in the basement of the NHL standings, sitting at 42 points with 25 games left to play. The next closest team is the St. Louis Blues with 49 points.

Garland has been a consistent contributor during his time with the team, typically producing between 46 and 52 points per season and playing a key role in their Pacific Division title run. Even this year, despite injuries, he has posted 25 points in 46 games and remains on pace for another mid-40s campaign.

Garland is respected around the league for his competitiveness, feistiness, and ability to drive play, and with the salary cap set to rise significantly over the next few seasons, his $6 million cap hit could become more attractive. 

But if Vancouver waits until his trade protection kicks in, their leverage disappears. 

With less than two weeks until the deadline, the growing sense around the league is that Garland’s future with the Canucks is more uncertain than it has been at any point since he arrived.

Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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