Rangers’ Failed Trade Package for JT Miller Revealed: Report

Elliotte Friedman had reported that ahead of the Vancouver Canucks’ Saturday night puck drop against the Edmonton Oilers, star forward J.T. Miller was supposed to be scratched as a trade was stewing with the New York Rangers.

Details have now emerged on just who exactly Rangers general manager Chris Drury was preparing to ship in exchange for Miller.

According to The Athletic, forward Filip Chytil and defenseman Ryan Lindgren were part of the package in addition to some “future-focused assets.” Sources informed The Athletic that a first-round pick was also involved, but the protection structure was ultimately what caused the deal to evaporate.

The Rangers also held several AHL players out of the lineup on Saturday, but it’s unclear if any of them were involved in this proposal.

More NHL: Canucks’ JT Miller Responds to Trade Rumors, ‘Whatever Happens, Happens’

The relatively modest return for Miller, considering his status and special skillset, indicates that Vancouver’s approach to moving him has grown more urgent over the past week.

Canucks sources are said to deny this, but Vancouver has been weighing its options — and future — with both star centers, Miller and Elias Pettersson. While there has been no significant shift in the situation, there is a strong internal belief that continuing with the current roster is not sustainable moving forward as the Canucks have slid down the Western Conference standings in the last couple of months.

At this point, the Canucks seem more inclined to move Miller than Pettersson. This is largely due to the age gap between the two as Miller is 31 and Pettersson is 26. A team source said that until a trade is finalized, there’s still a chance the situation could splinter in either direction.

Miller is on the third season of a seven-year deal worth $56 million.

The Canucks have granted some teams permission to speak with Miller, though he has a no-movement clause in his contract that he would need to waive before going anywhere.

He was drafted by the Rangers in 2011, Drury’s final season as a player and when he was the team’s captain. He went on to play parts of his first six seasons in the league for New York before getting traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning by the Rangers’ previous general manager, Jeff Gorton, at the 2018 trade deadline.

Miller has recorded eight goals and 31 points in 35 games this season, which is a big drop-off in the rate he had around this time last year when he eventually posted a career-best of 101 points.

More NHL:

Canucks’ Rick Tocchet Seemingly Takes Shot at JT Miller Amid Trade Rumors

Rangers Predicted to Swing Trade For Canucks’ JT Miller Ahead of Deadline