On Monday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal were joined by NYR analyst and host of Morning Cuppa Hockey Jonny Lazarus to discuss Filip Chytil’s first game with the Canucks and JT Miller’s early performances with the New York Rangers.

The guys started with Filip Chytil, as Lazarus noted that Chytil’s transition game is one of his biggest assets and should help the Canucks offensively.

“Anyone who’s watched Filip Chytil play for the past few years would tell you, without a doubt, he’s going to be a great fit there,” said Jonny. “For the first 15-20 games of the season, Chytil was probably the best player the Rangers had at forward. He was in limited power play time and top-six minutes, but the way he’s able to bring the puck from the defensive to offensive zone—he’s a one-man breakout. That’s hard to find in the NHL, especially for centers, so seeing him use his legs and be slippery is great. It’s rare that Chytil crosses the red line and dumps the puck in. He’s often crossing the blue line trying to make a play, getting a shot, doing a cutback, and hitting the second wave of offense. He does everything the right way and he’s got a lot of confidence.”

While his puck-moving ability is a clear strength, Lazarus pointed out a weakness in his finishing ability.

“The one knock I have on him is his finishing ability isn’t really there, but he’s consistent and you know what you’re going to get from him every night. The tough part is, every time he gets hit, you hold your breath. With his injury history, there were so many times he went down and your first thought is, ‘Oh no, is that his last shift?’ That’s why Rangers fans have accepted moving on from him, because his health will always be a question. As far as the player goes, he’s one hell of a hockey player.”

Miller has quickly embraced his return to New York, reuniting with longtime friend Vincent Trocheck and making his presence felt on and off the ice.

“I was a fan of his growing up, when he first was here, but seeing him come back and have this sense of gratitude, united with his best friend Vinny Trochek—it’s special,” Jonny explained. “Everyone saw the Will Cuylle hit last night, he dropped the gloves and went to the box, and J.T. was the first guy to get off the bench and across the ice to give him a tap on the shins. Little things like that almost earn J.T.’s respect right away, and that stuff can be contagious too.”

Miller has also been an instant contributor on the Rangers’ power play.

“We haven’t really had a lefty play their strong side on the first power play unit either, so that’s been a different dynamic, but the power play has gone three for five with J.T. without a practice so far, so that’s a good sign.”

The Canucks also acquired defenseman Victor Mancini in the Miller trade, and while he isn’t a high-profile prospect, Lazarus believes he could develop into a reliable piece.

“He’s a big body, right-handed shot guy who can move. Has some decent offensive upside, likes to keep it simple and isn’t afraid to shoot the puck, but I wouldn’t say there’s any flair there,” said Jonny. “He tries to make the right play and isn’t afraid to shy down from any hit or physicality. There’s nothing set in stone with Victor Mancini, there’s a lot of learning still for him, and who better to learn from than a guy like Quinn Hughes? Quinn will take him under his wing, being another college guy coming from Michigan, he understands the grind of a college hockey season and what it’s like to transition to the NHL. I have no doubt Mancini will be a solid blue-line depth piece for the Canucks.”

You can watch the full replay of the episode below: