Report: Canucks, Penguins discussed deal for J.T. Miller involving two first-round picks

The Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins discussed a deal for J.T. Miller leading up to the 2023 trade deadline that potentially would’ve seen the Canucks acquire two first-round picks, Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli indicated on Monday’s edition of The DFO Rundown podcast.

During a conversation with co-host Jason Gregor about possible trades for the 2023 NHL off-season, Seravalli shared some details on the negotiations between the Penguins and Canucks ahead of last month’s deadline involving Miller, who hails from the Pittsburgh area.

Miller does not currently have any trade protection in his contract, although his seven-year extension with the Canucks gives him full control over any potential destination between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2027.

“I think the Pittsburgh Penguins — and, again, we don’t know what’s going to happen with their general manager — they were really interested,” Seravalli said. “I don’t know if they would’ve been able to pull it off in the end. I think the deal that they were talking about involved two first-round picks.

“I think they even got to the point where they were talking about the other pieces that they would move in order to make it happen,” Seravalli added. “Because we just talked about our free agent class, right? And how weak it is. I think he’s going to be at such a premium this year for a team that’s really looking to improve themselves, and you worry about the back end of the deal later. Like, is J.T. Miller an $8 million player right now? I think, sort of, without question. Will he be an $8 million player for the next two, three, four years? Probably without question. Then you figure out whatever happens after that.”

Miller, 30, has 29 goals and 76 points in 75 games with the Canucks this year. He’s currently under contract at a $5.25 million cap hit through the end of the 2022–23 season, although his AAV will increase to $8 million between 2023–24 and 2029–30.

The Canucks originally acquired Miller from the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2019 off-season. The six-foot-one center has collected 198 goals and 530 points in 712 career games over parts of 11 seasons with the Canucks, Lightning, and New York Rangers.