LATEST | Expected timeline for Conor Garland trade revealed

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Cooper Godin
October 17, 2023 (3:57 PM)

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It's been just over a week since the Vancouver Canucks have allowed Conor Garland and his agent to speak with other teams around the National Hockey League about a potential trade. In the days that followed, several organizations have expressed interest.

Over the last week, at least six teams have been linked to Conor Garland: the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets.

Ideally, the Canucks want to retain $1-$2 million of Garland's salary per year for this season and the two following, as well as getting a defenceman in return.

On Sportsnet 650 radio in Vancouver, Mike Halford and Jason Brough suggested that the timeline for a Conor Garland trade will likely be tied to Ilya Mikheyev returning to the Canucks lineup, which could be within the next week. Mikheyev was skating at Canucks practice on Monday in a full-contact sweater and rotating on the team's fourth line.

"When Mikheyev gets back...could there be a Connor Garland trade ready to roll?"

Another interesting tidbit that Halford and Brough mentioned on the show on Tuesday was that Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Andrew Peeke was a healthy scratch for their game on Monday night against the Detroit Red Wings. Peeke has been linked to the Canucks by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, so it will be interesting to see how things go on that front in the coming days and weeks.

As for Conor Garland, although it's only two games into the season, he's played very well on the top line with Elias Pettersson and Andrei Kuzmenko, but once Ilya Mikheyev is back, that first-line right-wing spot belongs to him. Mikheyev coming back could either accelerate a trade, OR the Canucks could hold onto him a bit longer until they get an offer they can't refuse and have him playing lower in the lineup.

Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will move Conor Garland by November 1st? Let us know what you think in the poll below!