Vancouver Canucks could give priority to Conor Garland's contract extension amidst increasing salary cap

Conor Garland will enter the final year of his current deal with the Vancouver Canucks , and the 2025 offseason is the first time the club can try to negotiate an extension that will take effect in the 2026–27 season. With Garland becoming more valuable on and off the ice, the Canucks have a significant choice to make about how to treat his next deal—particularly with the salary cap projected to continue to increase.
What would a Conor Garland Vancouver Canucks contract extension be like
The Vancouver Canucks' front office has a bit of work ahead of them in the 2025 offseason, with various roster spots that need to be filled. But of their in-house priorities, perhaps one of the highest should be getting Conor Garland signed to a contract extension.
Garland's existing contract—a five-year, $24.75 million deal signed shortly after arriving in Vancouver—has an annual cap hit of $4.95 million. Cap percentage-wise, that amount will account for 5.18% during the 2025-26 season. With the NHL's salary cap, though, also expected to grow substantially in the next several seasons, Garland's next contract will be able to take a step higher in value without negatively impacting team flexibility.

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With the NHL salary cap poised to surpass $104 million by the 2026–27 season, the Canucks had some wiggle room to provide Conor Garland with a raise while not making his cap percentage too high. If Vancouver wants to keep his cap hit in line with his current 5.18%, then a contract in the $5.4–$6 million range would work.
A four-year projected extension at $6 million AAV would leave Garland's cap hit at around 5.7% in year one of the new deal. Assuming that the cap ceiling projects to grow up through the 2027–28 season to $113.5 million, that number would decrease to around 5.3%, essentially keeping Garland's value in proportion with team expenditure.
Also read: NHL Trade Rumors: Canucks eye Marco Rossi in bold trade offer including 2025 top-15 pick
Signing Conor Garland to an extension would be a shrewd move for the Vancouver Canucks as they enter a new era of contention. As the financial climate of the league changes and the salary cap increases, a $6 million AAV might seem high now, but it can become a bargain within two or three years. Considering Garland's reliability, leadership, and goal-scoring, signing him early might end up being one of Vancouver's best offseason moves.