The Vancouver Canucks are clearly leaning into a new direction-and it’s coming with some big roster moves. After already parting ways with key pieces like Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood, the Canucks appear to be doubling down on a rebuild strategy that’s shifting the focus toward youth and long-term flexibility.
One of the latest names in the trade rumor mill? Conor Garland.
Garland, a hard-nosed winger known for his motor and offensive spark, is reportedly being floated in trade discussions, with chatter picking up around a potential deal involving the Seattle Kraken and 22-year-old forward Shane Wright. That’s the kind of hypothetical that makes fans perk up-and for good reason.
On a recent episode of the Sekeres and Price podcast, NHL analyst Cam Robinson weighed in on the scenario, saying he’d make that trade “100%, 100% for sure.” His reasoning?
Wright still brings plenty to the table, even if his offensive ceiling hasn’t quite hit the heights projected when he was lighting it up at 16. As the fourth overall pick, Wright remains a highly valuable piece with two-way upside and a competitive edge that fits the mold of what rebuilding teams covet.
“He’s a good player,” Robinson said. “There’s a lot of talent there.
Even if the offense doesn’t fully come around, he’s still a strong two-way guy. He competes.”
But as intriguing as a Garland-for-Wright swap sounds, there’s a dose of realism to consider. Robinson noted that Garland may not be the type of player Seattle is targeting if they’re looking for a bona fide first-line winger.
That’s not a knock on Garland-it’s more about fit and ceiling. If the Kraken are hunting for a high-end, game-breaking forward, Garland might not be the centerpiece they’re after.
“When his name started floating around, I thought: does the Kraken want a true first-liner?” Robinson said.
“I don’t think Conor Garland checks that box. I don’t think Brock Boeser does.
I don’t think Jacob [presumably referring to another Canuck] checks that box for them. I think they can go big-fish hunting elsewhere.”
Still, for a team like Vancouver in the midst of a rebuild, Garland is exactly the kind of player who can be used to acquire younger assets or picks. He’s a proven NHLer with a consistent work ethic and enough offensive touch to draw interest-especially from teams looking to add depth or secondary scoring.
But there’s a catch-and it’s a big one. Garland is locked into a six-year, $36 million extension that runs through 2032, and that contract includes a no-movement clause starting this summer.
That’s a major wrinkle for any front office trying to move him. It’s not just about finding the right trade partner-it’s about finding a situation Garland would agree to, and one where the financials make sense.
Robinson didn’t sugarcoat it. When asked about Garland’s trade value, he was blunt: “Probably not, probably not a mid first-round pick. I don’t think so.”
That kind of return might be wishful thinking, especially with the contract looming large. While it’s possible a contending team could talk themselves into Garland’s upside and offer a first-rounder, it likely wouldn’t be a premium pick. As Robinson pointed out, any such deal would come with caveats-and probably a more modest return than fans might hope for.
“I think you’re going to have to find the right scenario for him because of the length of the deal that’s about to kick in, with a no-move clause attached starting in the summer,” Robinson said. “That’s going to be difficult to move.”
So where does that leave the Canucks? In a delicate balancing act.
They’re trying to build for the future while managing cap space and moving veteran contracts that don’t align with their long-term vision. Garland may not bring back a haul, but he still holds value as a trade chip-especially if Vancouver is willing to get creative.
Whether or not a deal with Seattle materializes, this much is clear: the Canucks are open for business, and no veteran piece seems off the table. The rebuild is on, and the front office is signaling that it’s willing to make bold moves to get there.