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Vancouver Canucks could trade Miller to Carolina: report

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Jan 20 2025, 10:39 pm
Vancouver Canucks could trade Miller to Carolina: report
Eric Bolte/Imagn Images

While details about Saturday’s failed J.T. Miller trade with the New York Rangers continue to filter out, another team is being linked to the Vancouver Canucks star centre.

Miller, who has a no-movement clause in his contract, controls his own destiny. He could remain in Vancouver if he chooses.

But while Miller hasn’t asked for a trade, according to CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal, it seems clear that he won’t stand in the Canucks’ way to move him. Miller’s preference is to play for an eastern-based team in the United States, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

“I do think the Canucks are acting under the idea that the preference is eastern United States,” Friedman said on Monday’s edition of Donnie and Dhali.

Friedman added that he doesn’t know if Miller would block a deal elsewhere.

If Miller isn’t traded to New York, perhaps his destination will be Carolina.

The Hurricanes are a team that both Friedman and Dhaliwal pointed to today.

“The Carolina talk is picking up this morning… keep an eye on Carolina,” Dhaliwal said on Donnie and Dhali.

As for who the Canucks could get back in a trade with Carolina, Dhaliwal tossed out two names he believes the Vancouver management team likes: Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jack Roslovic.

“Canucks really liked [Kotkaniemi] in his draft year,” Dhaliwal said before adding that Roslovic was a player Vancouver tried to acquire before Columbus traded him last year.

Kotkaniemi has three years left on his contract after this season, making $4.82 million annually. The 24-year-old centre hasn’t lived up to the hype of being drafted third overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2018 and has 29 points (6-13-19) in 46 games this season.

Roslovic, meanwhile, is a pending unrestricted free agent making $2.8 million. The 26-year-old forward has 25 points, including 17 goals, in 46 games this season.

The Canucks and Hurricanes have been linked in trade talks before. Just last season, the Canucks were reportedly in talks with Carolina about trading Pettersson before he agreed to sign a contract extension. Vancouver was also reportedly interested in trading for Martin Necas.

Where else Canucks could trade Miller to

Friedman indicated that the Rangers are still in the mix for Miller. He added that he’s “less convinced” about Miller going to the New Jersey Devils or Dallas Stars — two teams that have been rumoured to have interest of late.

Friedman added that he “wondered about” the New York Islanders getting involved as well.

Would the Boston Bruins want him? Former Canuck Elias Lindholm hasn’t exactly thrived as their No. 1 centre. How about the Columbus Blue Jackets? Miller’s an Ohio native, and Columbus is having a surprise season.

What’s becoming clear now is that trading Miller is a matter of when and where, not if.

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