After months of the rumour mill twirling, twirling and twirling, freedom has finally come with the Vancouver Canucks ripping the bandaid off a rift between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, trading the latter to the New York Rangers Friday night.
It’s the second consecutive Friday in which a blockbuster deal went down, as just seven days ago Mikko Rantanen was sent in a mammoth deal to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Now, Patrik Allvin and co. put pen to paper on their own franchise-altering deal, sending J.T. Miller, Erik Brannstrom and prospect Jackson Dorrington to the New York Rangers for forward Filip Chytil, defenceman Victor Mancini and a 2025 top-13 protected first-round pick.
It didn’t take long for Canucks fans to hit social media, expressing their pleasure — and dismay — over the swap.
Mike in the Valley thought the return was the best the Canucks could’ve gotten given the circumstances, but Schulzee wasn’t so sure, calling the trade an “Absolutely brutal return.”
Scott M, meanwhile, said he was happy, saying “People that are disappointed with this had their expectations way too high.” That’s a fair comment.
Curtis called the trade a “good move,” noting how “something had to give.” He was a fan of Vancouver not having to retain any of Miller’s contract, which has five years at $8-million per year remaining. That sentiment was echoed by many, and could be the biggest part of the trade as a whole for the Canucks.
Richie Abercrombie, meanwhile, wasn’t a fan of the deal, calling it a “rough trade.”
The Canucks will now have to get used to life without Miller, playing four games next week, hosting the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche before visiting the San Jose Sharks, before playing their last game ahead of the 4-Nations Face-Off a week from Saturday when Toronto comes to town.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.