So the Canucks did it. They made the move all of us Canucks fans were waiting for. They traded star forward JT Miller to the New York Rangers. The return wasn’t what a lot of people were expecting. It was a bit underwhelming for a player who put up 103 points last year. But that’s what happens when Jim Rutherford kills any leverage the Canucks had. It was just a matter of trade before a trade was coming. Whether it was JT Miller or Elias Pettersson. The Canucks had to do something to turn this season around.
After last year and the playoff run the team went on we all expected big things from the Canucks. This year they haven’t even come close to what they were. So does trading one of your best players help you win more games? Are the Canucks going to rebuild? What does this mean for Rick Tochett? Let me break down what the Miller trade means for the Canucks moving forward.
Full trade details:
To #NYR: J.T. Miller, Erik Brannstrom, Jackson Dorrington
To #Canucks: Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, 2025 1st Round Pick (Top 13 Protected)
No salary retained on Miller. If #NYR pick is in Top 13, pick transfers to 2026.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 1, 2025
We all know about the drama with Miller and Pettersson. Now Millers gone, so is Pettersson going to return to form. I sure hope so. Petey’s best stretch this year was when Miller went on his 10 game absence. At first I didn’t want to read too much into it. But as they say the proof is in the pudding. It seems like Miller has been a dark cloud around the Canucks but now he’s gone. Just like Katy Perry says “After a hurricane comes a rainbow”. So hopefully Pettersson can return to the player he was a year ago.
The trade goes beyond Pettersson. Its about the whole team getting their act together on both sides of the puck. The addition of Filip Chytil gives the Canucks a center who is defensively sound. Something Miller hasn’t been this year. This might also open up more playing time for Nils Hoglander who is another player who’s had a disappointing year.
A player I want to see thrive from this is Jake Debrusk. He’s been hot and cold this year. Ok enough with the Katy Perry references. Debrusk was brought in to play with Elias Pettersson and get first unit power play time. He hasn’t gotten that consistently this year. Hopefully with Miller gone he is playing in the top-six full time. It’s crazy that he isn’t already but regardless I want to see more from Jake. Management thinks this is a playoff team and the Canucks have no choice but to prove that they are. Its now or ever for the Canucks to make a run.