REPORT: Sharks Interested In Garland?

According to Pierre LeBrun, the San Jose Sharks are showing interest in Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland.

Garland, 29, is in the final year of a five-year contract with an AAV of $4.95 million. The Canucks winger did sign an extension over the summer that kicks in next season. His next deal is for six years, carrying a $6 million AAV. That extension may make the Sharks slightly less interested.

The New York Islanders were one of the first teams reportedly interested in acquiring the winger. The Hockey News’ Stefen Rosner reported on Wednesday that talks between the two teams have recently stalled.

A source tells SHD that the San Jose Sharks are interested in acquiring Garland, but believes teams in the Eastern Conference are pushing harder for him. The Sharks are interested, the source confirms, but how much more buying will Mike Grier do in a season where playoffs are not guaranteed?

Garland has had a solid NHL career and is a fairly consistent forward. He’s played 535 NHL games, scoring 129 goals and 188 assists. With the Canucks embracing a rebuild, the team’s offense has sputtered, including Garland’s. In 50 games, the winger has seven goals and nine assists.

The San Jose Sharks have already made two trades with the Canucks. First, they acquired Kiefer Sherwood and extended him for five years; today, they acquired Jett Woo in exchange for Jack Thompson.

The NHL Trade Deadline is Friday at 12 p.m. PT. The Sharks have multiple pending UFAs that could be traded.