Well, that’s one way to head into the long weekend.
Whereas most people typically take the Friday before Labor Day off of work, the Vancouver Canucks decided to make their biggest move of the offseason instead, agreeing to terms with forward J.T. Miller on a massive seven-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $8 million.
The details of the deal, which now ties Miller to Vancouver through the 2029-30 season, such as its salary structure and the inclusion of any trade protection have yet to be determined.
At the absolute peak of his value, Miller cashes in on what will undoubtedly be the most lucrative contract of his career. The 29-year-old is coming off a monster year in 2021-22, racking up 32 goals and 67 assists for 99 points in 80 games for the Canucks while averaging a little over 21 minutes in nightly ice time.
No one is disputing he’s a terrific hockey player. But this is still a massive risk for the Canucks to take in their current form.
As they are currently constructed the Canucks are not a Stanley Cup contending team and are now completely capped out after Miller’s new deal, with forward Elias Pettersson also in need of an extension of his own in two short years. Factor in how Miller will be nearly 31 when his contract kicks in, and it’s hard not to wonder if the Canucks should have looked at trading him.
Keeping Miller in the building was clearly important for the Canucks’ team culture. But with how high his trade value seemed to be, and the team’s trajectory at the moment, selling Miller off for a stockpile of assets might have been the most prudent move.
Nonetheless, an important piece of the Canucks’ core is locked into place, and should be productive for the coming season, too.
