The Washington Capitals have had long-reported interest in adding to their forward group this season, and those rumors continue ahead of the NHL’s 2026 trade deadline on Friday.
According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, that addition may come in the form of Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland. LeBrun listed the Capitals among several teams to watch regarding Garland, who has 26 points (7g, 19a) in 49 games for the lowly Canucks this season.
Garland, 29, signed a six-year, $36 million extension ($6M AAV) with the Canucks this past summer that doesn’t kick in until next year. In past seasons, he has been a successful, high-motor agitator for the Canucks, recording at least 46 points in four straight seasons before the current campaign.
As part of his new deal with Vancouver, Garland has a full no-movement clause for the first three years of the extension, but that clause is not active until July. Given that, it’s likely the Canucks, if committed to a full rebuild, will want to move Garland before he can block any trade, limiting their potential return.
The Capitals have been previously reported to have interest in Garland, with NHL insider Chris Johnston listing them as a potential suitor for the forward in October of 2023. At the time, Garland was unhappy and wanted a move out of Vancouver, but he eventually settled back in with the Canucks and signed long-term with the club.
Garland, who turns 30 in a week, is currently lining up as Vancouver’s top line right wing on a line with Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander. He is averaging 19:02 of ice time this season, which ranks behind only Pettersson (19:21) among all Canucks forwards. Garland plays top minutes for both of the team’s special teams groups, seeing 2:33 of power play ice time per game and 1:52 of shorthanded ice time per game.
Given his defensive responsibility and forechecking skills, Garland could be the answer for who plays on Washington’s top line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome down the stretch if acquired. Garland, in the 62nd percentile for max skating speed, per NHL Edge, is more of a playmaker than a goalscorer, never scoring more than 22 times in a season.
According to NHL.com’s Stefen Rosner, the price for Garland is likely to include a second-round draft pick and a prospect. The Capitals do not have a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but do in the following three drafts.
The other teams that LeBrun listed by name as potentially involved for Garland are the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils.
