Well the Vancouver Canucks finally did it they finally did it. The traded J.T. Miller. After all the drama and all of the talk in the media it finally happened. It seemed like it was just a matter of time after Jim Rutherford did an interview earlier in the week saying it was unlikely the Canucks keep both Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. There were rumors circling all week about potential trades. Whether it was Pettersson to Buffalo or Columbus, or Miller to Dallas or New York. Just before the Canucks faced off against the Dallas Stars the news broke.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has acquired forward Filip Chytil, defenceman Victor Mancini, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward J.T. Miller, defenceman… pic.twitter.com/dxAqqKkJEZ
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 1, 2025
The Canucks J.T. Miller back to the team that drafted him. The New York Rangers. The Canucks also sent defenceman Erik Brannstrom and 2022 6th round pick Jackson Dorrington. Vancouver received center Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a 2025 first round pick (top 13 protected). Personally, I really liked Brannstrom in Vancouver. He can skate and move the puck really well. Unfortunately head coach Rick Tochett didn’t like him. Causing him to be healthy scratched for a lot of games.
The return otherwise is headlined by Filip Chytil. With the Canucks sending Miller to the Rangers they were going to need a center back in return. Ideally someone who is 25-27 years old and is defensively responsible. Chytil checks both of those boxes. Chytil has been battling concussion problems the last few years. Only playing 10 games last season but when he was healthy in 2022-23 he put up 45 points in 74 games. Currently he has 20 points in 41 games and the Canucks hope he can develop into a solid second line center.
This return seems very similar to when the Canucks traded Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders but maybe even a little bit less. Previously the Rangers offered Chytil, Ryan Lindgren and a first round pick. But after Jim Rutherford killed a ton of Vancouver’s leverage in trade talks the return for Miller may seem a bit underwhelming to Canucks fans. I was praying for Alexis Lafreniere in return but that may have been a bit of a stretch. But what I can say is that the Canucks needed a shake up and they got one. Hopefully this can light a spark under Elias Pettersson and turn this season in the direction it should be going in.