The Vancouver Canucks were nearly part of a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes shocked the NHL community yesterday, acquiring both Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall in a three-way trade with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks.
In order to pick up both, they parted ways with Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick, as well as a 2026 fourth-round selection. They also sent the Blackhawks a third-round selection in 2025 in order for them to retain 50 percent of Rantanen’s $9.25 million cap hit.
Shortly after the deal was made, there were several reports that the Canucks had been talking trade with the Hurricanes, something TSN’s Pierre LeBrun backed up later in the evening.
My sense is that Carolina and Vancouver got fairly close on a trade before the Hurricanes went the Colorado route.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 25, 2025
Meanwhile, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote last night that the Canucks and Hurricanes indeed discussed deals pertaining to both Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. In the end, the ‘Canes chose to make a move with the Avalanche instead.
“They discussed both J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson with Vancouver (in separate trades, not together),” Friedman said. “I believe Necas would have been involved in a Pettersson deal, but not a Miller one. Obviously, there are other moves they could have considered.”
Hearing Miller and Pettersson’s names discussed in trade talks come as little surprise, as a reported rift between the two players has resulted in plenty of speculation that one or the other will be traded.
More signs have pointed towards Miller as the player to be moved, though the Canucks haven’t liked what’s been offered to this point. Several teams are believed to have expressed interest, including the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers.
The rift between the two stars has hurt the Canucks, who sit three points shy of the Calgary Flames for a playoff spot. Pettersson has managed just 11 goals and 30 points through 41 games, while Miller has eight goals and 33 points through 37 outings.
Though they weren’t able to work out a deal with the Hurricanes, it doesn’t seem like trade speculation is going to stop surrounding the Canucks anytime soon.
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