5 Potential Offseason Trade and Landing Spots for the Canucks' Conor Garland

The Vancouver Canucks face a salary-cap crunch for 2023-24. With a projected $84.2 million in cap payroll invested in 18 active roster players, they're already sitting above next season's expected $83.5 million.

Even if currently sidelined forward Ilya Mikheyev and Tanner Pearson remain on long-term injury reserve, it won't give them enough cap room to fill out the remainder of their 23-man roster. It would also handcuff their efforts to improve their depth through trades or free agency.

That could force general manager Patrik Allvin to make some cost-cutting trades. While forwards such as Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller have surfaced in trade speculation this season, Conor Garland has also come up as a trade candidate.

On May 10, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported the Canucks were "active on trying to move Garland's salary." While acknowledging the possibility of moving Boeser or Miller, Seravalli indicated Garland was one name they were focused on.

Signed by former Canucks general manager Jim Benning in July 2021, Garland carries an annual average value of $4.95 million through 2025-26. He also lacks no-trade protection giving current management a wide field of potential trade destinations.

A speedy, hardworking forward who can play on either wing and agitates opposing skaters, the 5'10" 165-pound Garland tallied 19 goals and 52 points in 2021-22 and 17 goals and 46 points this season. His style of play and decent scoring touch makes him a solid middle-six winger.

The Canucks wouldn't want to take back much (if any) salary in return. While they want to shed cap space, they could prefer getting a promising and affordable player. Failing that, a draft pick and/or a quality prospect might also do the trick.

Here's a look at five possible trade destinations for Garland and what the Canucks might get in return. You can express your views on this subject in the comment section.

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Since reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2019, the Carolina Hurricanes have become one of the better teams in the league. They finished third overall during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season and again in 2021-22 and were second overall this season.

Nevertheless, the Hurricanes have struggled to get past the Conference Finals. They were swept in 2019 and again this season, prompting The Hockey News' Adam Proteau to suggest they get bigger and better up front. Garland wouldn't bring them size but would provide grit as well as additional scoring depth to the Hurricanes' forward lines.

The Hurricanes could have some concerns about Teuvo Teravainen. Injuries limited the 28-year-old winger to just 37 points in 68 games this season plus he's a year away from UFA status. The same goes for 30-year-old depth wingers Jordan Martinook and Stefan Noesen. Garland, 27, is younger and put up better stats this season.

Garland would also provide cost certainty on his contract beyond next season. With $24.1 million in cap space and 17 roster players under contract, the Hurricanes can afford his cap hit. Perhaps an offer of one of their two second-round picks in 2024 along with a prospect might interest the Canucks if they end up desperate to shed salary.

Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson has been rebuilding his roster since taking over the job in March of 2022. He's been stockpiling draft picks which he's put toward replenishing his club's prospect pipeline with promising young players that could one day become NHL stars.

Davidson has also brought in older players on short-term contracts to bring experience and leadership to the youngsters on his roster. He also uses those veterans as bargaining chips at the trade deadline to add more draft picks and prospects.

The Chicago GM has shied away from adding players on long-term contracts. However, he might make an exception if it means moving up in this year's draft order. Chicago already holds the first-overall pick as well as the No. 19 pick. The Athletic's Scott Powers reports they'd like to move up in the order with that pick, suggesting the Canucks as a trade partner.

Powers proposed Chicago bundle that 19th overall pick with a second-rounder to the Canucks, who hold the 11th overall selection. The Vancouver Province's Patrick Johnston suggested that might be possible if Chicago took on a salaried player like Garland or Tyler Myers in return. Garland would be more enticing as he's younger and in his playing prime.

The Canucks have a recent trade history with the Detroit Red Wings. On March 1, the Wings shipped defenseman Filip Hronek to the Canucks in exchange for two draft picks. Perhaps the two clubs could team up again for another deal involving Conor Garland.

During their end-of-season interviews, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and head coach Derek Lalonde mentioned the club's need to bolster the toughness on their roster. They aren't looking for someone who can fight but want their players to look out for each other and push back against their opponents.

Garland could be useful to the Wings in that department. He can help them with his speed and scoring touch as well as with his agitating style of play. The veteran winger could also help them provide insurance at left wing given Robby Fabbri's injury history and Filip Zadina's struggles to establish himself as a middle-six forward.

With $30.7 million in projected cap space and 15 active roster players under contract for 2023-24, the Wings have room to absorb Garland's contract. If they're running out of patience with Zadina, perhaps they could do a one-for-one swap for Garland. It would give the 23-year-old Zadina a fresh start and a second chance to get his NHL career on track.

Long-time Nashville Predators general manager David Poile is stepping aside after his club missed the postseason for the first time since 2013-14. Incoming GM Barry Trotz could look at making a move or two to help the Predators stage a bounce-back performance next season.

Having traded away Tanner Jeannot to the Tampa Bay Lightning this season, the Predators could use some experienced grit and offense among their checking lines. Garland could be a good fit here. He would provide cost certainty as he's under contract through 2025-26 and his salary would fit within their $15.5 million cap space for 2023-24.

The Predators need a scoring boost after finishing 28th overall with a goals-per-game average of 2.72. Garland lacks Jeannot's size and pugilistic abilities but his speed, scoring and agitating style could make him a solid addition to their second or third lines. He could also chip in on the power play and penalty kill.

With two second-round picks in 2023 and three in 2024, Trotz could draw on a couple of those to tempt the Canucks. He could also bundle one of those second-rounders with one of the Predators' three third-rounders or three fourth-round picks in this year's draft.

For the first time since 2005-06, the Pittsburgh Penguins failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Their subsequent front-office shakeup led to the hiring of Kyle Dubas as president of hockey operations, who'll also serve as interim general manager. He faces the challenge of bolstering the depth around aging stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

Someone like Conor Garland could help the Penguins in their attempt at a bounce-back performance next season. On May 11, The Hockey News' Nick Horwart wrote that the gritty winger had been on the Penguins' radar before. He believes Garland would be "the perfect boost" to their bottom-six forwards despite the expense of his contract.

Horwat pointed out that Garland is in the prime of his playing career and had the same amount of points (46) this season as Penguins winger Bryan Rust, who played this season on the first line. He also noted they have $20.2 million in cap space for 2023-24, giving them sufficient room to add a winger like Garland.

The Penguins could, as Horwat suggests, offer up their 2023 first-round pick, which sits 14th overall. However, that could be considered an overpayment for a middle-six winger. They lack a second-rounder in this year's draft but could perhaps bundle their 2024 second-rounder with a prospect given the Canucks' desire to shed salary.

Stats via NHL.com with salary info and line combinations via Cap Friendly.