Miller to New Jersey? Vancouver Canucks trade rumour picks up steam
J.T. Miller’s name is in the rumour mill again. Given the way he and his Vancouver Canucks teammates played Thursday night, that can’t be a surprise.
The 31-year-old has been linked to the New York Rangers in reports more than any other team this season, but now there’s talk that the rival New Jersey Devils may be intrigued by Miller’s availability.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported Thursday that if Miller or Elias Pettersson get traded before the March 7 trade deadline, to “keep an eye” on New Jersey. Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects added fuel to that fire today, at least when it comes to Miller specifically.
“There’s some smoke out there that the Devils are really kicking the tires on J.T. Miller,” Robinson said Friday morning.
There's some smoke out there that the Devils are really kicking the tires on JT Miller.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) January 17, 2025
New Jersey has Stanley Cup aspirations, given their current place in the standings — tied for second-place in the Eastern Conference. Puckpedia projects the Devils to have $5.7 million in deadline salary cap space, so they wouldn’t have to move that much money to fit Miller’s $8 million cap hit. The Canucks would need to convince Miller to waive his no-movement clause though.
CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal indicated today on Donnie and Dhali that a trade isn’t imminent, given Miller hasn’t been asked to waive his no-movement clause. Dhaliwal did add that many teams around the league like Miller as a player, and that his sources have indicated that Miller is more likely to get traded than Pettersson.
It’s beginning to feel like a matter of when, not if, the Canucks trade one of their two star centres. It’s generally harder to make a blockbuster trade in-season than the offseason, but if Canucks GM Patrik Allvin waits too long, he may be ruining the team’s chance of success this season.
The Canucks aren’t in a playoff spot today and there won’t be postseason hockey in Vancouver if they can’t stop the dam from leaking.
And everyone can see the holes right now.