Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller was the subject of trade gossip for several months last season. The 29-year-old has also been a fixture in this offseason's rumor mill.
Miller is in the final season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.25 million and lacks no-trade protection. The versatile, late-blooming star had a career-best 99-point performance last season, leading the Canucks and finishing ninth among all NHL scorers.
Miller will likely receive a big payday on his next contract. Whether it's with the Canucks, however, remains to be seen.
During an appearance on the Dropping The Gloves podcast earlier this month (h/t Vancouver Hockey Now's Rob Simpson), Miller said he wanted to be in Vancouver but would also understand if it's not meant to be. He acknowledged it's a business decision for both sides.
On a recent episode of the Sekeres & Price podcast, CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal suggested Nazem Kadri's new seven-year contract with the Calgary Flames could work in Miller's favor. He doubted the Canucks center would accept anything less than a seven- or eight-year deal.
Dhaliwal also considers Miller comparable to Mika Zibanejad. The New York Rangers center is the same age as his Canucks counterpart and is in the first season of an eight-year contract worth $8.5 million annually.
The Canucks could trade Miller if they don't reach an agreement on a contract extension. That could happen close to the 2023 trade deadline if they're out of playoff contention. They might seek a return that includes a first-round pick, a top prospect and/or a promising young NHL player to align with young stars Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.
Here are five potential landing spots for Miller if he ends up in this season's trade market. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.
Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney ensured his club had veteran depth for 2022-23 by signing captain Patrice Bergeron and bringing back David Krejci to affordable one-year contracts. However, those moves are merely short-term measures that paper over the club's need for long-term depth among their top-six centers.
Sweeney could have his eye on Miller if he becomes available in next summer's unrestricted free-agent market. He'll have $58.1 million invested in 13 players for 2023-24, with perhaps another $10 million allocated for re-signing winger David Pastrnak. However, the Bruins could still have enough cap space to sign Miller to a long-term contract.
However, they could have a more immediate need for help at center if Bergeron and/or Krejci struggle to play up to their usual high standards. Both are now in their late-30s, and the grind of a long NHL season could catch up with them, potentially threatening the Bruins' chances of reaching the 2023 playoffs.