The Vancouver Canucks are at an impasse with star forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. Both players are amidst deep cold spells, inspired by an off-ice rift and resulting in plenty of trade rumors. The team took one step forward in figuring out their plan with the duo on Saturday when Miller was nearly held out of Vancouver’s lineup to support a trade to the New York Rangers per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal fell through and Miller ended up playing in Vancouver’s 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. He contributed two primary points in the effort, his first scoring since he managed four points on January 6th.
Miller’s dwindling impact has become a focal point of Vancouver’s 4-6-0 skid. Head coach Rick Tocchet shared harsh words after benching the forward, insinuating that he had quit on his teammates amid another tough loss. Miller has seen his numbers crater since the calendar turned over. He has seven points in nine games – most among any Canucks forwards – but he only scored in three of those outings. Miller has also posted a 40% goals-for percentage (GF%), the third-lowest of Vancouver’s top-six forwards behind Pettersson (25%) and Jake DeBrusk (33.3%).
While theatrics surround him, Miller is still an incredibly impactful forward. He has 31 points in 35 games this season, putting him on an 82-game pace of 73 points. That would be the lowest scoring Miller has managed in a full season since the 2019-20 campaign when he notched 72 points in his first year with the Canucks. He’s since been red-hot – recording 99 points in 2021-22, 82 points in 2022-23, and a career-high 103 points in 2023-24. No other Canuck has come close to Miller’s 433 points in 399 games since he joined the team, with Quinn Hughes’ 380 points in 401 games and Pettersson’s 375 points in as many games the next closest.
That would be an invaluable impact for the Rangers to acquire. They’re in the midst of their own chaotic season, with similar rifts and trade rumors surrounding longtime Rangers Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. A swap for Miller would likely have to involve one of those two, though Vancouver would need substantially more behind them to warrant moving their team’s top-scoring forward. The Rangers have enticing prospects in the gritty Brennan Othmann and ever-improving Gabe Perreault, but their depth falls quickly thin behind them. Perhaps it was the challenge of figuring out complimentary pieces that ultimately pulled the rug from under the trade talks.
Nonetheless, this news is a sign of progress being made in moving Miller out of Vancouver. He’ll be one of the biggest names to watch as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches on March 7th. Meanwhile, Pettersson is leaning towards sticking with the program that bet on him so many years ago. Vancouver drafted Pettersson fifth-overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. He joined the team two seasons later, and won the Calder Trophy for ’Rookie of the Year’ with 28 goals and 66 points in 71 games. He matched the scoring in three fewer games in his following year, after improved on it slightly in year-four after year-three was limited by injuries.
That all set up Pettersson for a smash season in the 2022-23 campaign, when he scored a career-high 39 goals and 102 points. It was the fifth-most a Canucks player has scored since the turn of the century – behind the Sedin twins, Markus Naslund, and Miller. While Miller has taken to dazzling scoring, Pettersson has donned the role of face of the franchise next to Hughes. Vancouver seems poised to hold onto that duo, while trimming off negative impacts, with this latest update.
In one additional note, Friedman also shared that Vancouver sent a clear message to teams to not tamper with their players – and that any teams wishing to talk to Miller or Pettersson would need approval first. It is believed that a few teams have been granted permission to talk with Miller, but none are currently speaking with Pettersson. Both forwards are signed for the forseeable future – Petterson signed through 2031-32 with a $11.6MM cap hit, and Miller signed through 2029-30 with a surprisingly-cheap $8MM price tag.
As great, And as energetic as Miller is, On the ice, He’s toxic in the locker room.
You’ve been in the locker rooms to confirm this?
Blake Wheeler was the same, right?
What is Millers value in a trade? The contract isn’t bad but he probably will be nearing the end of his prime? Are they just trying to wipe themselves off the drama and take a hit on his value? Or are they trying to still get a top return, as if nothings going on?
Miller was a pain in the behind the first time he was a Ranger.
I don’t recall any of that. What did he do to be known as a PIA?
I don’t see where Vancouver has any leverage in this.
They have a player who is now perceived as completely toxic, with a full no move clause, and after this season you are paying for his age 32/33/34 seasons… years where players begin to show some wear and tear.
Miller can basically just stomp his foot and say “Send me to ______” and Vancouver basically has no leverage within that trade.
The only way they are getting even remotely equal value for him is if they eat salary.
The leverage is keeping him
That doesn’t sound very productive lol.
I guess it depends on what is actually happening between Miller and his teammates. I certainly can’t speak for that and nobody except those in the organization know what is going on. Whatever it is, it seems pretty significant and you would think that him staying is not really an option.
Maybe they can figure it out and play nice for the rest of the season although it seems that they have tried to force that and it’s not working.
huh?
With all the chatter around the league, Behind the scenes, Is it possible that Miller is untradible?
It’s sounding today like Pittsburgh has Interest in Miller, Dubas never disappoints. Lol.
Elias Lindholm for JT Miller?
E.L. – just turned 30yo, 7/15/22, $7.75m per thru 2031
J.T.M. – almost 32yo, 8/23/31, $8.0m per thru 2030
They are both good defensively and in the faceoff circle. Similar contracts. Vancouver knows Lindholm. He’s a good all around centerman. Miller is more productive offensively and more physical but almost 2 years older and seems to have a difficult personality. Both teams need a spark. Who says no?
We had him & don’t want him at what Boston signed him for. I’m sure the Bruins have pieces to make a compelling offer but Lindholm is not one of them.
Lmao, star vs 2nd liner. Add, add, add
Are you expecting to get full value for JT after he quit on his team? That might not be realistic.
The B’s don’t really have much else of value. They have Pastrnak, McAvoy (when healthy) and Swayman. They should be off the table in a JT Miller trade. After that, you’ve got a few mid-level talents and a bunch of role players. They also have the worst prospect pool in the NHL.
Don’t know what’s happened in Vancouver this year, but I do know that Miller was the best player in the Canucks/Preds playoff series last season and Pettersson was invisible.
Can’t win a cup with Pettersson.
How do you know this?
(VAN) Miller for (STL) Buchnevich, who says no?
The Rangers since they drafted both of them!
Miller says no because his preference is east coast.
Send that cratering offense to Raleigh