Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland appears again in the NHL rumor mill, this time with talk suggesting the Washington Capitals as a possible destination.

Conor Garland remains the hot topic of trade rumors among NHL pundits. The 27-year-old Vancouver Canucks winger has been linked to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets.

There's now some talk suggesting the Washington Capitals as a possible destination.

On Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Garland being granted permission by the Canucks to speak with other clubs. He also noted the Capitals have been looking around for a trade partner to take winger Anthony Mantha off their hands.

Mantha, 29, has frequently surfaced in the rumor mill since last season. He's in the final season of his contract with a salary cap hit of $5.7 million and lacks a no-trade clause. A two-time 48-point scorer with the Detroit Red Wings, Mantha's production declined since getting shipped to Washington at the 2021 trade deadline.

On Monday, CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal cited Friedman saying Washington was a team he was keeping an eye on as a destination for Garland. He said the Capitals are trying to move Mantha, indicating that swapping the two wingers doesn't work.

The Canucks are willing to move Garland in part because it'll clear some much-needed cap room. According to ESPN's Kevin Weekes, they could retain 30 percent of his $4.95-million annual average value through 2025-26 to facilitate a deal. Acquiring Mantha would only add to their cap payroll.

If the Capitals want Garland, they must find a club willing to acquire Mantha. That could be a difficult sell, given his cap hit and the drop in his stats.