The confirmation by Elliotte Friedman that the Vancouver Canucks are open to trade options on both Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller was huge news that dropped on Saturday. Until that report, it was deemed as mainly speculation. While the organization hasn’t publicly confirmed they are accepting trade offers on either or both players, when Friedman reports something of this nature, it’s fairly accurate. With that in mind, what teams might be interested in J.T. Miller?
In a later post, we’ll look at Pettersson, but for the purposes of this article, the focus is on the skilled but intense leader who may have worn out his welcome in Vancouver because his in-your-face style isn’t meshing the team’s other superstar.
It’s important to remember that Miller has a full no-move clause in his contract. Any team that we mention here would have to be on his approved list.
New York Rangers
The obvious first choice is the New York Rangers. While they aren’t the most appealing team right now because of their free-fall down the standings, Miller previously played for the team between 2012-2018. He knows the franchise well, and Nick Kypreos said on the “Real Kyper & Bourne” show on Thursday, “If this guy needs to green light (a trade), I do believe there’s one spot he would maybe lift his no-move and that would be the New York Rangers.”
The Rangers are looking to shake things up. They’ve already moved several pieces, and speculation is that they want to do more and like the idea of bringing Miller back. The question becomes who they give up, and Mika Zibanejad‘s name has been mentioned, as has K’Andre Miller‘s.
Like Miller, Zibanejad has a no-move clause. If he were the topic of trade conversations, it’s not clear he would approve to go to the Canucks.
If the Rangers really wanted to shake things up, a trade to acquire Miller would do it.
Colorado Avalanche
A team that could badly use a center and would be seen as a contender is the Colorado Avalanche. If Miller wanted to limit his options to teams that might compete for a Cup, why not go to a team that has Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, and some other incredible pieces?
MacKinnon is also known to be intense, so Miller’s personality would be no issue for that Avalanche locker room. They also have a couple of pieces the Canucks might be interested in, especially if Friedman’s report that the Canucks want a center is accurate.
What if the deal involved Casey Middelstadt, a defenseman like Josh Manson or Samuel Girard, and a prospect or pick? It solves a couple of the Canucks issues and gives them something for the future.
Manson and Girard both have modified no-trade clauses, so that would be something that requires consideration.
Chicago Blackhawks?
What would possess a player like J.T. Miller to give any time to the idea of joining a rebuilding team like the Chicago Blackhawks? The answer is Connor Bedard.
On his podcast “32 Thoughts“, Friedman mentioned the Blackhawks as a team that he “likes” when it comes to acquiring Miller. They’re also in a position to spend money and want to take a big step toward being more competitive right away.
The Blackhawks are also a team that could have a no-nonsense voice in their locker room. Some of their showings this season have been embarrassing, and a player like Miller will hold everyone accountable.
New York Islanders
An intriguing team might be the New York Islanders. They will likely lose Brock Nelson in free agency and may trade him ahead of the NHL trade deadline. That would leave them with Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat as their top two centers. Barzal often plays wing. If the Canucks want a center in return, this becomes a very intriguing conversation.
Is there any scenario where Horvat would be interested in returning to Vancouver? Would Barzal be someone the Canucks would see as a nice return? There are health questions with Barzal, and he has a 22-team no-trade clause. But, when he’s healthy, he’s solid. The Islanders also have Noah Dobson, and he’s one heck of a defenseman that would solve a lot of the Canucks’ blue-line questions.
The Islanders are not a playoff team, and that may turn off Miller. Of the three teams mentioned, this one is by far the least likely. However, Vancouver’s return might be among the most attractive if the Islanders are interested.