Trade talk heating up on Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland
He’s become the Vancouver Canucks No. 1 trade deadline asset.
Reports earlier this week suggested that Conor Garland was being pursued by the New York Islanders. However, Isles general manager Mathieu Darche reportedly never presented the Canucks with a firm offer.
Sportsnet 650’s Satiar Shah reported on Canucks CentralĀ that the Canucks asked the Islanders for a first-round pick, but were turned down.
But, with less than 24 hours to go until the NHL trade deadline, the list of teams interested in Garland continues to grow.
RG Media’s Jimmy Murphy reported on Thursday that the Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the top teams after Garland.
I've been travelling all day, so apologies if this has been reported already, but I keep hearing #CBJ is really in on #Canucks winger Conor Garland.
From what I'm told, the #NHLBruins and #Isles are still interested, but there's not a fit at this point.
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) March 5, 2026
CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal also mentioned Columbus’s interest in Garland on Wednesday.
The Blue Jackets have stormed back into the playoff race with eight wins in their last 10 games, but they still sit three points outside of a playoff spot.
Among potential playoff teams, they have some of the most cap space available in the NHL.
But the Blue Jackets and Islanders aren’t the only two suitors for Garland.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Thursday that as many as six teams are in the Garland sweepstakes.
Further to Rick here, hearing Columbus, Washington, NJ, NYI, SJ, Boston among teams showing interest in Garland https://t.co/yJZRXZJ3Rr
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 6, 2026
Five Eastern Conference teams were mentioned, including the Blue Jackets, Islanders, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and Boston Bruins.
But the San Jose Sharks are a new team in the mix.
Ironically, the Canucks last two trades have been with Mike Grier and the Sharks. That includes the Kiefer Sherwood trade from January, and the Jett Woo deal that was consummated on Thursday.
Much like the Blue Jackets, the Sharks are three points out of a playoff spot, although they have won three straight games to inch closer to a playoff berth.
Trading Garland is complicated by the fact that he has a new six-year deal worth $6 million per season that kicks in on July 1. He has also underperformed this season and hasn’t scored since Quinn Hughes was still with the Canucks.
Still, Garland has shown immense value over the years with the Canucks as someone who can play up and down the lineup.
Whether that’s enough for any of the aforementioned teams to bite on his before noon on Friday is a different story.