A new report reveals at least one NHL team has called the Vancouver Canucks trying to acquire star forward J.T. Miller.
The New York Rangers contacted the Canucks looking to trade for Miller, per The Athletic’s Arthur Staple. The two teams have engaged in trade talks surrounding the centre during the 2021-22 season but were unable to agree on a deal.
Staple reports that the recent discussions “likely didn’t get very far.”
Miller started his career with the Rangers organization. The American-based club picked the Ohio native with the 15th overall selection in the 2011 NHL draft. He played the first six years of his career with the Rangers, scoring 72 goals and adding 100 assists for 172 points in 341 games.
This latest rumour comes against the backdrop of Miller taking a personal leave from the Canucks. The 31-year-old stepped away from the team in mid-November and is not expected to return for some time.
It’s widely known across the NHL that the Rangers are looking to shake up their roster after an underwhelming start to the season. Veterans Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider have specifically been mentioned as being on the trade block, although it’s likely GM Chris Drury wouldn’t hesitate to trade a number of other players on the roster.
The Canucks are also rumoured to be active on the trade market as they look to add a defenceman. Top-pair stalwart Filip Hronek is expected to miss a significant amount of time with an upper-body injury.
When the Rangers and Canucks discussed a Miller trade a few years back, the deal fell apart partially because the Rangers would not include young defenceman Braden Schneider. The Canucks would likely need that to change or for the Rangers to include another one of their promising young players, perhaps K’Andre Miller, to move discussions forward.
While both of these GMs seem ready to make a trade, it’s difficult to envision the Canucks trading Miller. The forward has become the emotional leader of the club and is coming off a career-best season where he not only broke the 100-point mark but also took on the toughest defensive matchups.