After much speculation and rumours and chatter… the JT Miller in Vancouver era ended last night. It was talked about for weeks – the locker room drama, the conflicts, the leave of absence – but on Saturday Miller was traded to New York before puck drop. It was a complicated end to a really great stint for Miller. Here’s how the trade broke down:
Vancouver Canucks get: F Filip Chytil, D Victor Mancini, 2025 first-round pick (top-13 protected) New York Rangers get: F J.T. Miller, D Erik Brännström, D Jackson Dorrington
The Canucks got a good young center back in Chytil, and solid D prospect in Mancini, and a first-round pick that didn’t even stay with the organization for 24 hours before being flipped to Pittsburgh in a trade.
Vancouver Canucks get: D Marcus Pettersson, F Drew O’Connor Pittsburgh Penguins get: F Danton Heinen, D Vincent Desharnais, F Melvin Fernström, 2025 first-round pick (via New York Rangers, top-13 protected)
That’s a lot of trading for Allvin and Rutherford in 24 hours. That’s a lot of Petterssons on the Canucks now!
At the end of the day, the Canucks believe they are a better team overall. Removing the locker room distraction and adding in an upside center and legit top four defender is a net positive. We’ll see if and how that actually plays out in the coming weeks though. For now, here’s a little breakdown on who the Canucks are getting in return:
Chytil:
Chytil is a polarizing asset that could make or break this deal from Vancouver’s perspective. The 25-year-old has the talent to be a quality middle-six center with the combo of his speed and skill. He’s a better player than his point totals indicate and there’s a realistic scenario where he could take a step and be a competent second-line center behind Elias Pettersson.
However, Chytil’s head injuries — he played just 10 games last season — are a huge red flag. Because of his injury risk, he may never become a consistent, impactful top-nine center.
Mancini:
Mancini has progressed very well and was a surprise out of Rangers camp by making the team following a mediocre college career. Mancini is a big and mobile right-shot defender who has clear NHL athleticism. His puck-moving since he’s turned pro has been better than anticipated. I wouldn’t call him a true offensive type in the NHL, but he can create with his feet and has shown he can make a reliable first pass while defending speed and skill. He projects as a third-pair defenseman or a No. 4 if you’re a real believer.
Pettersson:
Pettersson may be a fit for a Canucks team that needs help on the back end. He isn’t a play-driver, but he can keep up and complement high-end offensive defenders. He brings stability to the defensive zone. Pettersson retrieves a lot of pucks and helps his team push play out of its own end.
O’Connor
O’Connor has been mired in a season-long slump and brings at least some potential to offer physicality and depth scoring off the wing after he had 16 goals and 33 points last season.
A lot of this hinges on the Canucks resigning Pettersson (he’s gonna need a nickname), but I don’t think Rutherford would have flipped a 1st for a pending UFA if he doesn’t believe he could sign him to a contract here. Overall, feels very much like the Horvat and Hronek trade.
For the team, they were sad to see Miller go, obviously, but understand the business of it all. Here’s what they all had to say.
“Obviously, a lot of noise the last couple weeks and months,” Hughes said of the drama surrounding the team and especially the strained relationship between Miller and Elias Pettersson. “But, you know, to see him go, he's a heckuva hockey player, and I enjoyed playing with him for the six years that I had. Right now, it doesn't even really seem real. But the next couple weeks, I'm sure it will sink in a little bit.
“For everyone in the organization, I think it's just been a lot of noise. And for Millsy, too, it's been a lot on him. I think he's looking forward to, you know, a fresh start. But we're obviously going to miss him here. He had a lot of competing (and) played some really good hockey for us. But in saying that now, we've got to refocus on the guys that we do have here.”
Petey said after the game losing Miller was a “big blow”. But.. he was also asked by Murph about his relationship with Miller, and said: “I don't want to get into that. I mean, all we can do is look forward. I don’t know what to say. All we can do is look forward.”
“Anything like that happens, it's always tough, especially Millsy,” Myers said. “He has been such a big part of the room. You know, it's always a weird feeling. I know he's emotional. He's been such a big part of the city (and) team. In a lot of ways, I'm happy for him for a fresh start.”
“It's a business, you know, the way it is,” Tocchet said. “When you're in this business long enough, there's going to be things like that. I thought the guys handled it well. Millsy was a big part of the team. I'm sure he's emotional and stuff. Like, it was a kind of emotional thing. But, you know, it's a business, right? Things happen.”
It’s a needed little reset for the team. Rutherford and Allvin were dealing, and they seem happy with the outcome. Rutherford gave a little interview with the Athletic after the trades, and had some things to say.
“It’s been a trying season, to say the least,” Rutherford said. “To be honest, we’re in a fight just to make the playoffs right now. But, we are building for the stretch run. And the thing is, we’re also building for the future as well. We’re building moving forward.”
“We had to give up something to get him, but Marcus is one heck of a defenseman,” Rutherford continued. “I traded for him when I was in Pittsburgh, and I’m very happy with how that one turned out. I traded Daniel Sprong for him, and I can still remember people saying, ‘How on earth can you trade Daniel Sprong for this guy?’ Well, I’m pretty darn happy with how that worked out. How good did that trade work out? And here we are again. We need an upgrade, and he’s going to give us that. I know that he will.”
The Canucks team that plays at home tomorrow night is going to be a very different team now.
Also, the Canucks played in Dallas last night and lost. The team didn’t play poorly, they generated a lot of shots, and just couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. Here are some highlights:
Additionally, Hughes might be hurt. He said he’ll see how it goes, but doesn’t seem overly concerned about it.
The Canucks now need Petey to step up more than ever. He’s been showing flashed of the player, and was good last night, but there’s been a hole created and so much pressure put on him. He knows that.
“But then, on the other side, I want that pressure. It’s up to me to take it,” he said.
Asked about Petey getting a fresh start, Tocchet said: “Obviously, you know, we need him to play. I mean, we need him to come up with some big moments for us. He knows that he's an important part of our team, and he's got to get going.”
We’ll find out come Sunday what ripples this has on the team. Until then, I’m sure there will be lots to discuss and analyze.
Quotes from the Province, the Athletic, and Sportsnet.
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