The Vancouver Canucks have reportedly locked up one of their core stars from the 2024–25 NHL season, who was entering the final year of his contract. The news could disappoint the Washington Capitals, who had explored the possibility of adding the player to bolster Alex Ovechkin’s forward group.
Ovechkin was one of the standout performers last season, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record of 895. However, his 73 points in 65 games weren’t enough to lead Washington into the decisive rounds of the playoffs.
In that context, the Capitals had shown interest in a Canucks star over the past few months. While this rumor originally surfaced a few seasons ago, it resurfaced during the offseason. Still, Washington’s salary cap constraints ultimately shut down the possibility. Meanwhile, Vancouver appears close to finalizing a key contract extension.
Who is the Canucks star expected to re-sign?
The Canucks player nearing an extension is none other than right wing Conor Garland, one of their most productive forwards in recent seasons. The expected announcement would be bad news for the Capitals and other interested franchises.
According to NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal, Garland’s new contract would be for six years and $36 million, representing an average annual value (AAV) of $6 million, a notable increase from his current $4.95 million deal.
Other teams interested in Garland
In addition to the Capitals, the Nashville Predators also expressed interest in acquiring Garland. According to NHL Trade Rumors, they were considered frontrunners, attracted by his dynamic playing style, speed, and offensive upside, particularly if Vancouver was willing to retain around 30% of his salary.