Canucks center J.T. Miller remains in Vancouver for now after a reported trade to the Rangers fell through over the weekend. That deal never got close enough for the Canucks to ask Miller to waive his no-movement clause, multiple members of The Athletic’s NHL staff reported Monday, but it did potentially involve New York sending young top-nine center Filip Chytil, pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and multiple “future-focused assets” to Vancouver.
A disagreement on the conditions around the prospective first-round pick was the principal reason the deal fell apart, per The Athletic’s report. It doesn’t mean the Blueshirts are out of the running on Miller entirely, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet told CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal on Monday that the Rangers and Hurricanes are the two likeliest parties to land Miller, who prefers a trade to the Eastern United States. Friedman mentioned the Stars, Devils, and Islanders as interested but less probable outcomes.
If the reported return for the now-nixed trade is a strong blueprint for other potential Miller deals, though, it signals a continued rocky path for the Canucks down the stretch. The total value of what they’re getting isn’t bad – they need short-term help on the blue line, Chytil still has top-six potential when healthy, and the first-round pick will likely be in the teens – but it doesn’t give them a direct replacement for the near point-per-game Miller.
Even amid a down year for J.T. and time missed due to personal leave, he leads Canucks forwards in scoring with 31 points (8 G, 23 A) in 35 games. That’s below expectations, considering he’d averaged 96 points per 82 games over the prior three seasons, but still elite-level production that’s due for a rebound. His 11.8% shooting rate stands as his lowest in 10 years.
If Carolina wins out with a similar return, it would seemingly involve 24-year-old pivot Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who the Canucks demonstrated interest in acquiring when they nearly dealt Elias Pettersson to the Hurricanes last season. He’s likely a lower-value pickup than Chytil, with an iffy $4.82MM cap hit running through 2030 and just 19 points in 46 games this season. The Canes could easily make up for that by giving Vancouver a higher-value defenseman in return than the Rangers can with Lindgren, though.
This has to get done, It’s dragging out, And it’s become a huge distraction for those involved. The Ranger deal fell through last minute on Saturday, But it may not be over.
Flyers should be trying to get him to help out Michkov. Plenty of first round picks and coming prospects to trade
Philly isn’t parting with a bunch of their future for an older guy who may be starting to decline and who will probably butt heads with Torts. Briere will keep the rebuilding process moving along slowly and steadily.
As a Canucks fan – let the bidding war begin
Jersey
NY
Carolina
Flyers
Stars
Josh Norris, eliasson and a couple firsts.
you’re delusional
I would not leave out a team like Washington… it is all in for sure with their season so far.
The Canucks have only themselves to blame for how big a mess this is. Things should’ve been handled more privately (the coach and GM granting interviews on it was insane) and now they have no leverage in trade talks. Oh, and pretty big red flags on both Petterson and Miller here. It’s not uncommon for teammates to dislike each other but you can still be a professional, come to work every day and do your damn job.
At least the Rangers are familiar with Miller and know what they’d be getting. But if I’m a GM of another team I’m not feeling great about how he would fit into my locker room. Or Petterson for that matter. It seems like he “switches off” if the conditions/coaching/chemistry etc. are not to his liking.
Another Conner Bedard / Corey Perry issue?
Kevin Fiala & Akil Thomas to Nucks for him!
Trade Chris Drury for Miller!
A saw a Miller to Carolina for Kotkaniemi and Roslovic story today.
Seems to be out there, but Canes would definitely need to add I’d imagine.
From Vancouver’s prospective that Ranger deal is awful. Not shocked it didn’t go through.
Lafreniere would be great to see in Vancouver
Miler for Miller let’s get it Done!!!
Lafrenierre for Miller