The recent blockbuster or trade that sent a player in their prime to a contender for multiple pieces was the Conor Garland trade. The Vancouver Canucks moved him to the Columbus Blue Jackets before his six-year contract and no-trade clause kicked in, and it’s why this trade in a fun one to think about in the short and long term.
Don Waddell Had One Trick Up His Sleeve
Last season, the sneaky move that Blue Jackets general manager (GM) made was adding Dante Fabbro, a shutdown defenseman who unlocked Zach Werenski’s game. With the team in the hunt for a playoff spot, an under-the-radar move was coming. This is it. Garland is a scorer on the wing and the ideal top-six fit for a team that already has plenty of talent up the middle.
Blue Jackets Rebuild Take Final Step With Garland Add
The Blue Jackets were already putting together a successful rebuild. They have a young core with star players in their forward unit (Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko) and on defense (Werenski). They didn’t need another core player, yet the right fit for years to come would put this team over the hump.
With Garland, the Blue Jackets have a forward who can work well alongside Fantilli or Charlie Coyle, who is having a great season. For a team on the cusp of making the playoffs, they will have plenty of offense moving forward. More importantly, Garland is under contract for six more years and with a good deal at that. A $6 million average annual value (AAV) deal for a winger who is limited doesn’t seem like it but with the cap going up, this deal will look like a bargain in a few years, and the Blue Jackets benefit the most from it.
The Canucks Rebuild Path Without Garland
The Canucks kicked the can on the rebuild for years, trying to retool on the fly. This was noticeable after the Bo Horvat and JT Miller trades, two moves that gave them NHL-ready players to allow them a quick turnaround (they also got picks but flipped them for players). The Garland trade, which gave them draft picks, signals that this team is ready to rebuild. Pair that with the Quinn Hughes blockbuster earlier in the offseason, and it’s no secret which direction they are heading in.
Related: MacKenzie Weegar Traded: Analyzing the Return
This opens the door for a teardown and a long-term rebuild. The question is what the best path to contention for the Canucks is. It starts with a top pick in this year’s draft, and they can build from there. It’s why adding draft picks and younger prospects is the next move for a team that’s restocking the farm system.
What Happens to Boeser & Pettersson
If the Canucks are starting from scratch, presumably, they won’t have Brock Boeser or Elias Pettersson on their rosters. They are veteran players who will be past their prime by the time this team is good again. So, they should be the next players to move right? The problem is their contracts with the no-trade clauses and the money attached to them (Pettersson, particularly, needs a team to take on $11 million AAV). So, it will be interesting to see how Jim Rutherford and GM Patrick Allvin go about it.
These Trades Will Be Common Occurrences Going Forward
This trade saw a player with multiple years left under contract get moved. It’s a surprise but not based on the recent trends. The salary cap is going up, and teams are re-signing their pending free agents. Most teams now have the money to keep their top players and prevent them from walking out the door.
So, the next place to build is through the trade market. With the cap going up, it makes some players and their contracts manageable. The Nazem Kadri deal or the Steven Stamkos one would be untouchable years ago but now, contending teams can take them on knowing they are still adding a great talent in the process.
