As September draws near, there’s no sign of progress in contract extension talks between the Vancouver Canucks and J.T. Miller. If an agreement isn’t reached soon, recent rumors claim the 29-year-old center is drawing interest from some Metropolitan Division teams.
After speaking with four NHL general managers, Vancouver Hockey Now’s Rob Simpson reported at least two Metropolitan Division teams are interested in Miller. He subsequently suggested the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes as potential trade partners.
The Devils already have two top centers in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier but Miller could skate alongside one of them as a left wing. Simpson suggested Damon Severson as part of the return given the Canucks’ need for a young right-side defenseman,.
Like Miller, the 28-year-old Severson is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. The Canucks would likely want assurances that he’d agree to a contract extension before acquiring him.
Simpson also proposed a package of a first-rounder, young winger Martin Necas and a right-shot defenseman like Brett Pesce or Ethan Bear from the Hurricanes. However, they recently acquired rearguard Brent Burns and left winger Max Pacioretty, though the latter is sidelined until February with a torn Achilles tendon. They also signed veteran center Paul Stastny last week.
The New York Islanders attempted to acquire Miller at this year’s draft but the deal fell through. NYI Hockey Now’s Stefen Rosner believes they should acquire him before the start of the season.
Rosner proposed a package with Scott Mayfield and prospect Samuel Bolduc as part of the deal. However, it would likely take the inclusion of a gifted young blueliner Noah Dobson in the deal to tempt the Canucks into shipping Miller to the Islanders.
