New York Rangers price to trade for Canucks J.T. Miller went up
The New York Rangers, who are heavily rumored to be after Canucks forward J.T. Miller will likely need to up their offer.
After Monday’s Montreal trade of Tyler Toffoli, who has an AAV of only $4.25M for another two seasons to Calgary was done, it helped set the market on good players with term.
Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller is exactly one of those players and his price most certainly went up. With Toffoli landing four pieces, including a first round pick and a highly touted prospect, the Canucks should expect a better return.
Is J.T. Miller worth it for the New York Rangers?
Miller, 28, has one more year left on his deal worth $5.25M before becoming a UFA. He’s also been extremely productive with 48 points in 47 games for Vancouver this season. Of course, teams that want him need to start making serious offers.
“My sense of that situation is that if you are a contender that plans to bid on J.T. Miller closer to the March 21 trade deadline, you better make your best deal before that,” Pierre LeBrun said on TSN’s Insider Trading.
Teams that have been reportedly in on Miller are the Rangers, Flames, and Bruins. Calgary’s acquisition of Toffoli takes them out of the mix.
The rumored price is set at a first round pick, player, and top prospect.
That’s a steep price to pay, but if the New York Rangers really want to make noise in these playoffs he’s absolutely worth it.
GM Chris Drury has a huge hole to fill in the top six. The injury to Kaapo Kakko, who is out at least a month only exacerbates an already huge problem on the right side. Of course, Miller is playing on the top line LW for Vancouver but is versatile enough to play any forward position effectively.
Miller will also provide an affordable insurance policy if the Rangers and Ryan Strome can not reach an agreement on an extension.
A potential trade package for J.T. Miller
When it comes to paying the bill, there are several assets said to be available by the New York Rangers.
Vitali Kravtsov would be considered the highly touted prospect, while Nils Lundkvist would fit the bill for a young player. The 22 year-old Kravtsov has already been confirmed of interest to Vancouver.
Our sources were split as to whether Kravtsov had ever been part of any latent trade discussion between the Rangers and the Canucks, however. What is clearer is that Kravtsov is a player of interest for the Canucks and that interest may not necessarily be tethered to any of the flashy star-level players popping up in Canucks-centric trade rumours as we approach the NHL’s silly season.
The Athletic
The Canucks are looking for a right-handed defenseman and would rather have Braden Schneider, but he’s entered the Rangers untouchable category. Nils Lundkvist, who we reported available awhile back is certainly not a bad consolation prize.
Still, it won’t be enough and the Rangers may need to add 22 year-old center Filip Chytil to the mix. By moving his $2.3M cap hit, it will help try and retain Miler and Strome together on the same team.
The key here is can Chris Drury find a way to keep his first round pick after offering all that? It’s possible, but any bidding war will make it unlikely.
Keeping that pick will allow Drury to use it on another rental piece, most likely a rental defenseman like Mark Giordano.
NHL Rumors
Canucks said to be interested in Vitali Kravtsov, plus could the Rangers pursue Devils’ Pavel Zacha? Read more.
More About:New York Rangers News New York Rangers Analysis New York Rangers Rumors