The never-ending trade saga with the Vancouver Canucks is nearing its end — and so too, it seems, is the J.T. Miller era.
Amid off-ice drama and sub-standard on-ice production, the Canucks are getting ready to move their 31-year-old centreman, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on the Saturday Headlines portion of Hockey Day in Canada.
“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 and I believe that team to be the New York Rangers,” Friedman said Saturday. “I don’t know exactly what happened but that trade is off right now.”
Miller will suit up against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, barring any last-minute changes, but Friedman did say that there was a point where a trade looked imminent enough to keep Miller out of the lineup.
This comes as the beginning of the end to a month-long narrative between Miller and Elias Pettersson, during which the rumoured rift between the Canucks’ top two centremen has been affecting the team, both on-ice and off.
Friedman had previously reported that all solutions were on the table, including trading one, both or neither. Though it appears that the Canucks are choosing to move on from Miller, the American has control over his destination. Part of his seven-year, $56 million contract he signed in 2022 includes a full no-move clause. When a trade is imminent, the forward will be asked to waive that clause.
After hitting career-highs in goals (37) and points (103) last season to lead the Canucks to a Pacific Division title, the East Palestine, Ohio, native has suffered a turbulent 2024-25. Miller had 16 points in the first 17 games of the season (six goals, 11 assists) before taking a 10-game leave of absence for personal reasons. Since returning, he’s got two goals and 15 assists in 17 games, but has gone the past five outings without a point.
Friedman added that the Canucks have warned other front offices around the league about tampering, reminding teams that they require Vancouver’s permission to speak with current Canucks.
“I believe now, at this time, some teams have permission to talk to Miller,” Friedman continued. “Not sure who it is, but I’ve heard that there are some teams that have been granted permission.”
In regards to Pettersson, Friedman reported the 26-year-old Swede indicated to the Canucks’ front office that he would like to remain in Vancouver and that the Canucks prefer that as well. Pettersson does have trade protection on his new eight-year, $92 million contract, but that doesn’t kick in until next season.
