J.T. Miller has evolved into the emotional leader of the Vancouver Canucks but the team did consider trading him not that long ago.
Some interesting details surrounding a failed trade came to light today. It appears that the Canucks were targeting a package built around two promising young players from the Colorado Avalanche.
Miller’s name was in the trade rumour mill for years, and the noise reached a fever pitch at the 2023 trade deadline. While a deal might have felt imminent at certain points, Miller ended up staying put. He’s now in year two of a seven-year deal with a no-movement clause.
“Remember the million rumours that J.T. Miller was going to the Penguins or the Rangers? Well, the Avalanche were also after Miller,” explained CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal on Donnie & Dhali today.
“The Canucks asked for a package that centred around Bowen Byram and Alex Newhook. The Avalanche said no.”
“That’s a player this #Canucks regime has gone after before..”@DonTaylor5 and @DhaliwalSports talked about trade possibilities on our poll question and a name previously linked to the #Canucks https://t.co/h4e2SKM7eJ pic.twitter.com/FYP5fWbg6h
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) November 5, 2024
Byram is a smooth-skating defenceman who was a top-five pick, and Newhook is a solid two-way centre who was also picked in the top 20. Adding the two players would’ve given the Canucks lineup an injection of youth and skill. It also sounds like there was more to the total package.
While the Canucks held onto Miller, the Avalanche ended up moving on from both Byram and Newhook. The former was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, while the latter was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens.
While the full details of the trade are still not known, the Canucks would’ve likely been disappointed in the trade, considering neither Byram nor Newhook have developed into top-of-the-lineup players.
Byram has yet to play more than 55 NHL games in a season as he’s dealt with serious concussion issues. His career-high for points is just 24, far below what many expected when he was selected with the fourth pick in the 2019 draft.
Newhook hasn’t blown anyone’s socks off either, as he has yet to beat 34 points in a season.
This failed trade is relevant once again today as Byram may be available via trade per multiple reports, including TSN’s Darren Dreger on yesterday’s episode of Sekeres & Price. The Canucks could be suitors considering their need for a puck-moving defenceman and the fact they’ve shown interest in the player before.