A rumor making the rounds during the 2022 NHL draft had the New York Islanders attempting to acquire Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller. Nothing came of it but that hasn’t stopped speculation linking the 29-year-old forward to the Islanders.
The Province‘s Ben Kuzma took note of the Islanders’ ongoing search for a scoring forward. He wondered if a trade could be worked out sending Miller to Long Island with defenseman Noah Dobson coming the other way in a package deal.
Dobson, 22, is a restricted free agent coming off a 51-point breakout campaign. Kuzma suggested that performance put him in the same territory as Rasmus Dahlin. Cap Friendly shows the 23-year-old Buffalo Sabres blueliner carries a $6 million average annual value through 2023-24, earning $5.8 million in actual salary in 2022-23 and $7.2 million in 2023-24.
Kuzma suggested that type of raise for Dobson could be too expensive for the Islanders, especially with center Mathew Barzal slated to become an RFA next summer. He felt the young rearguard would bolster the right-side depth on the Canucks blueline.
Dobson would also be more affordable to sign than Miller, who carries a $5.25-million cap hit for 2022-23. Kuzma speculated an extension could cost the Canucks over $8 million annually.
It’s doubtful, however, that Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello gives up Dobson in a package deal for Miller. An affordable, short-term bridge contract is likely in the cards for the young blueliner as his lack of arbitration rights gives Lamoriello the hammer in contract talks.
Miller might not be the only option on Lamoriello’s radar to improve his offense. A recent report suggests the Isles GM could be targeting free-agent center Nazem Kadri.
