Former New York Rangers forward Sean Avery recently shared his thoughts on head coach Peter Laviolette and suggested a potential trade move for the team. Known for speaking his mind, Avery stated on Monday that he would “fire Peter Laviolette today” and proposed a solution for the Rangers’ offensive struggles.
On the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, Avery recommended a blockbuster trade where the Rangers would acquire Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller in exchange for Filip Chytil and K’Andre Miller. Avery praised Miller as a “superstar,” emphasizing his ability to bring both scoring and grit to New York’s lineup.
“He’s a superstar. J.T. Miller is a big player. He reminds me of Rod Brind’Amour, but with a bit of a different edge. He’s got a bit of the Primeau brothers in him— I love him,” Avery said. “But sweeten the deal and don’t wait too long. It’s the perfect situation; you have an opportunity. West Coast team, make them move. I’d give them Filip Chytil and K’Andre Miller. Aren’t those two enough?”
J.T. Miller, currently in the second season of a seven-year, $56 million contract, has been one of Vancouver’s top performers this season, tallying 21 points in 24 games. However, Miller and teammate Elias Pettersson have come under scrutiny recently for their struggles to produce together on the ice, which could potentially lead Vancouver to trade one of them.
Avery’s suggestion to include Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller in the hypothetical trade came as no surprise, considering his previous criticism of the player. “As far as K’Andre, you gotta move him now,” Avery stated on the same podcast. “You have to move him while he still has trade value. It’s not going to work out. He’s not a big-market guy. He doesn’t have the demeanor of Ryan McDonagh. When you put McDonagh in a war zone, he turns into a real warrior quickly.”
K’Andre Miller, a 2018 first-round pick, has had a tough time matching last season’s performance, recording just six points in 28 games this year (0.21 points per game), down from 30 points in 80 games last season (0.37). If this proposed trade goes through, it wouldn’t come as a shock.
Although there have been no reports linking the Rangers and Canucks or the players mentioned by Avery, the Rangers are in the midst of a roster overhaul. New York has already moved key players, and Rangers general manager Chris Drury signaled a shift in strategy with a league-wide memo on Nov. 24, followed by the trade of former captain Jacob Trouba and former No. 2 overall pick Kaapo Kakko.
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