Canucks trade disgruntled forward J.T. Miller to Rangers in 6-player deal

One of many NHL’s more unusual conditions is lastly being resolved. Middle J.T. Miller has been traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers, in keeping with a number of media stories.

Miller and teammate Elias Pettersson, two of the Canucks’ prime scorers, have developed tensions between them going again roughly three seasons. The feud largely comes right down to Miller’s aggressive management fashion, which clashed with the youthful Pettersson’s quieter fashion.

The 2 fought throughout apply in late October, slashing one another with their sticks. Their disagreement has develop into a big falling out, which has break up the staff’s locker room, regardless of public denials.

In mid-November, Miller left the Canucks indefinitely for what the staff stated have been private causes. He rejoined the staff after a 10-game absence, showing in all 23 of Vancouver’s video games since then.

The dispute has been a significant factor in Vancouver falling from a 50-23-9 first-place end final season to its present 23-17-10 mark. That leaves them fifth within the eight-team Pacific Division and ninth within the Western Convention, on the skin trying in for a playoff spot.

Concurrently, Miller, 31, put up his finest numbers final season, tallying 103 factors (37 targets, 66 assists). Nonetheless, his manufacturing has fallen to 9 targets and 26 assists this season. He has 5 years remaining on his contract, set to pay him $40 million.

Pettersson, 26, signed an eight-year, $92.8 million contract final March, however has additionally seen his efficiency falter from 89 factors (34 targets, 55 assists) final season to 11 targets and 21 assists in 44 video games this season.

To resolve the problem, the Canucks had labored out a deal to ship Miller to the Rangers, however that commerce fell by means of. Miller has a no-movement clause in his contract, however was prepared to waive it to return to New York, the place he started his NHL profession and performed six seasons. Pettersson was additionally practically traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in one other deal that broke down.

This week, Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford acknowledged in an interview with The Globe and Mail’s Gary Mason that the rift has break up the staff and altered once-promising plans.

Nonetheless, the Canucks and Rangers lastly agreed on a commerce that each groups hope fuels a turnaround. Miller is anticipated to be in New York’s lineup for Saturday’s matchup with the Boston Bruins.

Going to Vancouver in alternate for Miller is heart Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini and a protected first-round draft decide as a part of the deal. The Rangers may also obtain defensemen Jackson Dorrington and Erik Brannstrom within the commerce package deal.

The 2025 first-rounder traded to the Canucks is protected if it is among the many NHL Draft’s prime 13 picks, in keeping with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.