By now, we’re sure you’ve heard about the recent trade between the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers surrounding JT Miller that was reportedly nixed on Saturday. However, we’re getting some more details flowing in days after the fact.
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli shared details today on Daily Faceoff Live about why the trade ultimately fell through:
“It’s abundantly obvious that they’re trying to make something work with JT Miller. And I think some of the pushback that I got was from the Rangers end, was not so much that it was a clause that was related to the first-round pick being moved, but that it was the Rangers not being willing to take on the entirety of JT Miller’s contract. That ended up being the hangup.”
Reportedly, the deal involved forward Filip Chytil, defenceman Ryan Lindgren, potentially some prospects who were held out of the Rangers’ AHL affiliate (Hartford Wolf Pack) game on Saturday, and a conditional first-round pick.
Seravalli continued, but now from a Canucks perspective in regards to that reported nixed trade:
“If you’re looking from it from a Vancouver perspective, you’re looking to get some assets back from Miller, and then potentially use that cap space and assets to then go out and get players or pieces that make your team better right now – if you can’t do it in one transaction. That would kind of defeat the purpose of taking on money from the Miller deal and for a long period of time. The point would be to move off from the contract entirely, which of course then limits and or damages your return.”
According to the Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes have also joined the conversation while speculating the Dallas Stars might be poking around, as well.
There is no imminent trade at this time, but every game that goes by might be Miller’s last in a Canucks uniform.