There was a time when J.T. Miller trade rumours were seemingly a daily occurrence. But when the Vancouver Canucks star centre signed a long-term contract extension and had his no-movement clause kick in before last season, that was supposed to end the trade speculation for good.
And yet… here we are.
Despite everything, Miller has been the subject of trade talks of late, with the New York Rangers reportedly calling the Canucks about him back in November.
In an interview with Sekeres and Price this morning, TSN’s Darren Dreger shared what he’s hearing. Because teams are calling.
“What I know is, and this is based on intel and sourcing from around the league, that yeah, there’s been a lot more chatter, certainly around J.T. Miller,” Dreger said.
The rumoured rift between Miller and Elias Pettersson has played a factor in getting teams talking, Dreger said. But that doesn’t mean a trade is imminent, he added.
“Trade chatter has definitely increased around JT Miller, but that doesn’t mean he is getting moved”@DarrenDreger | @patersonjeff | @mattsekeres
Presented by @bet365ca | #NeverOrdinary #bet365 pic.twitter.com/ZXrqqElzme
— Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) December 30, 2024
Can Miller and Pettersson co-exist on the same team? It’s a question a lot of fans and media are asking lately.
Paul Bissonnette, who is well-connected with players around the league, was the first notable figure to relitigate their relationship in early December. That seems notable, given that everything had been quiet through the local media for quite sometime before that.
The supposed rift became impossible to ignore when Tocchet began splitting up Miller and Pettersson onto separate power-play units. Then Tocchet challenged the media to talk to each player.
Both Miller and especially Pettersson bristled when asked about their seemingly rocky relationship, despite head coach Rick Tocchet and team captain Quinn Hughes apparently confirming that one existed.
GM Patrik Allvin has an important decision to make. Is it time to trade one of his star players, or can they thrive together on the same team?
If Allvin decides to move on from Miller, it may not be easy, as any deal would need to be approved by the player because of his no-movement clause. Pettersson is theoretically easier to deal, but not for long, because his no-movement clause kicks in this summer.