January 18, 2025 | 9:44pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANUCKS TRADE TALKS ESCALATING ON MILLER

J.T. Miller, centre

The Vancouver Canucks have engaged in serious trade negotiations with multiple teams involving star centre J.T. Miller, including the New York Rangers, and those discussions are expected to continue over the coming days.

As TFP’s David Pagnotta reported Saturday morning on “The Hot Stove” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, trade talks picked up this week and have carried into the weekend. According to Pagnotta, Miller is open to waiving his no-movement clause to multiple teams, including the Rangers, but as of Saturday evening, the Canucks have not formally asked him to waive it.

During the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman reported a trade between the Canucks and Rangers intensified over the last 24 hours, so much so that Miller was expected to be taken out of the lineup this evening, but talks broke down and a move with the Rangers is off the table, as of tonight.

Friedman also reported Miller and his agents have permission to speak to a handful of teams to help facilitate a trade, though it is unclear which teams those are.

“There was a time over the last 24 hours where J.T. Miller was not going to play, he was going to be held out of the lineup because talks were progressing on a trade, I believe that team to be with the New York Rangers,” Friedman said. “That trade is off, right now.”

Trade speculation involving the New Jersey Devils ramped up on Friday, despite Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald revealing publicly on Thursday that he has not spoken with Canucks GM Patrik Allvin about a Miller trade, as Pagnotta noted in Friday’s column.

Following Friedman’s report Saturday evening, Pagnotta added that, as of Saturday, the Devils are not one of the teams with permission to speak with Miller’s camp.

Miller, 31, is in the second year of a seven-year, $56 million contract.

In 34 games with the Canucks so far this season going into Saturday night's game against the Edmonton Oilers, Miller has registered eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points. He tallied 37 goals and 103 points last season.

Meanwhile, the Canucks have also been listening on centre Elias Pettersson, but it sounds like he is unlikely to be moved, according to Friedman.

“Pettersson has told the Canucks he would like to stay, and I think that their preference is to do that,” Friedman said.