In the NHL, news is often driven by local stories. The recent blockbuster trade that moved Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall, and Martin Necas to new teams has sent ripples throughout the league, but it may have had unique consequences for the New York Rangers. We’ve been closely tracking the Rangers’ interest in Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller, and the recent trade involving the Carolina Hurricanes could change things for Miller, a former Ranger and East Palestine, Ohio native.
For those who are just catching up, here’s the situation: Miller and his Canucks teammate Elias Pettersson have had a falling out, and Miller has requested a trade. Vancouver is now looking to move one of the two, but Miller’s market value has been lower than expected. The Canucks killed a potential deal with New York because they didn’t want to retain salary in the trade. As time passes, Miller’s value continues to drop, which is forcing Vancouver to reconsider their stance on keeping Pettersson.
Teams reportedly interested in Miller include Carolina, New Jersey, Boston, Dallas, and the Rangers. While the Rangers are still monitoring the situation, they’ve pulled back from the negotiation table, though their offer remains on the table if Vancouver general manager Patrik Allvin rethinks his position. The trade was derailed by Vancouver’s refusal to retain salary on Miller’s contract, but that stance may change as the situation develops.
The Rantanen trade has altered the market dynamics. The Rangers have ramped up their efforts and are now one of the teams Miller would consider waiving his no-movement clause for. With New York’s cap space, they can acquire Miller without needing to send back contracts, and Vancouver may now be open to dealing Miller for future assets rather than players who can help them immediately. This could give the Rangers a chance to land their former forward.
It’s safe to say that Carolina is likely out of the race for Miller. Although Carolina’s Eric Tulsky is an excellent hockey mind, it doesn’t seem likely. New Jersey, Boston, and Dallas all need to clear cap space. Now, with Mikko Rantanen out of the picture, Colorado could enter the mix as they look for scoring help and depth at center. However, the Rangers still have the strongest position in this pursuit.
If the Rangers can renegotiate a deal that involves taking on Miller’s full contract while giving up fewer assets, they could emerge as the front-runners. This would be a savvy move, allowing them to capitalize on Vancouver’s situation. It would be a longer-term strategy, given Miller’s contract length, but it’s an exciting possibility for Rangers fans who hope to see Miller return to New York.
Leave a Reply