The Vancouver Canucks made a big splash in the NHL once again with a Friday night trade, sending forward J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini, and a 2025 first-round draft pick, as confirmed by both teams.
Along with Miller, defensemen Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington are also heading to New York. The Rangers’ draft pick is protected for the top-13 spots, but if it falls within that range, it will become an unprotected 2026 first-round pick.
Miller waived his no-trade clause to make the move possible, which had been in the works for several weeks. The Canucks had considered sitting Miller out of a game against the Edmonton Oilers earlier this month due to ongoing trade discussions, but the deal ultimately didn’t go through at the time.
J.T. Miller is returning to the New York Rangers, the team that drafted him 15th overall in 2011. He played for the Rangers from 2012 to 2018 before being traded to Tampa Bay. After joining the Canucks ahead of the 2019-20 season, Miller signed a seven-year, $56 million extension with Vancouver starting in 2023-24. He departs as the Canucks’ second-highest scorer this season, with nine goals and 35 points.
Miller will likely be in the Rangers’ lineup when they face the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon. New York, which unexpectedly fell out of playoff contention in the first half of the season, is now just five points behind a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, making Miller’s return a timely boost.
The trade likely came as a relief to Miller, who had been the subject of trade rumors for some time, especially as talks about him possibly returning to the Rangers gained momentum. Although his contract extension with Vancouver seemed to calm some speculation, it increasingly felt like Miller’s departure was inevitable.
This move follows comments by Canucks president Jim Rutherford, who confirmed reports of a rift between Miller and Vancouver star center Elias Pettersson. Despite both players denying any tension, Rutherford acknowledged the issue and suggested that changes were on the way.
“I felt for a long time that there was a solution here because everyone involved, including the parties themselves, worked on it,” Rutherford told the newspaper. “But it’s only resolved for a short time before it resurfaces, and it’s clear that there’s no good solution that would keep this group together.”
Rutherford’s comments contradicted Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, who had previously downplayed the rumors during his midseason availability. Allvin had called it “unfortunate” that such rumors were impacting the team, emphasizing that the players had done a great job blocking out the noise. “I’m proud of the guys. They’re capable of blocking a lot of noise and just going out and playing,” he said. “We want to create an environment where they feel safe and trusted. The players have galvanized and played extremely well under the circumstances.”
Filip Chytil, the 25-year-old forward acquired in the trade, has shown potential but struggled with injuries throughout his career. This season, he has recorded 11 goals and 20 points in 41 games. A change of scenery could help him thrive, and when healthy, he’s expected to be a solid contributor as a middle-six forward in Vancouver’s lineup.
The Canucks have been struggling recently and are currently one point behind a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Leave a Reply