The New York Rangers traded for veteran center J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks in a multiplayer deal on Friday night.
In exchange, the Rangers gave up center Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini, and a 2025 conditional draft pick to Vancouver. New York also received defensemen Jackson Dorrington and Erik Brannstrom.
The Canucks had been expected to trade either Miller or Elias Pettersson due to a reported disagreement between the two. Miller was unexpectedly scratched before Vancouver’s 5-3 loss to Dallas on Friday, and the teams announced the trade during the game.
“I want to thank J.T. for his time here in Vancouver,” said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “J.T. was a passionate impact player and good leader for our hockey team. Moving him was not an easy decision but we are pleased with our return from the Rangers. Both Filip and Victor are good additions for our club and we are excited to see what they bring to us on the ice.”
Miller, 31, was drafted by the Rangers with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft. He spent parts of six seasons in New York before being traded to Tampa Bay along with defenseman Ryan McDonagh on February 26, 2018.
Miller, now in the second year of a seven-year, $56 million contract, will help strengthen the Rangers lineup, which has struggled after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season and reaching the Eastern Conference final. Miller has nine goals and 26 assists in 40 games with Vancouver this season.
“When you’re in this business long enough, there’s going to be things like that,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said about the trade. “Millsey was a big part of the team. I’m sure he’s emotional… Millsey’s played great hockey for the Canucks and myself. Obviously, a heart-and-soul guy. I think he’s going to do well over there.”
Pettersson didn’t want to talk about his issues with Miller or what it means for him going forward.
“I don’t want to get into that,” he said. “All we can do is look forward.”
Later, the Canucks acquired defenseman Marcus Pettersson—no relation to Elias—and forward Drew O’Connor from Pittsburgh in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, prospect Melvin Fernstrom, and the draft pick they received from the Rangers in the earlier deal.
New York is currently in 13th place in the East, five points behind Columbus for the conference’s second wild card. Vancouver is in ninth place in the West, just one point behind a wild-card spot.
For his career, Miller has 247 goals and 427 assists in 839 games with the Rangers, Lightning, and Canucks. He also has 12 goals and 44 assists in 91 playoff games. Miller had a career-high 37 goals and 66 assists last season, setting personal bests with 103 points, 40 power-play points, nine game-winning goals, and 217 hits.
During his first time with the Rangers, Miller scored 72 goals and had 100 assists in 341 games.
Chytil, 25, was selected by the Rangers with the 21st overall pick in the 2017 draft. He has 75 goals and 89 assists in 378 games, including 11 goals and nine assists in 41 games this season.
“Heard some really good things,” Tocchet said about Chytil. “I heard he’s very excited to come. Mancini I hear is a really big defenseman, young, that can play. Yeah, I think there’s some stuff to work with.”
Marcus Pettersson has 14 goals and 119 assists in 444 games for Anaheim and Pittsburgh. O’Connor has 24 goals and 26 assists in 157 games for the Penguins.
Heinen has 93 goals and 137 assists in 538 games for Boston, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver. Desharnais has one goal and 15 assists in 114 games.
Mancini, 22, made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring one goal and adding four assists in 15 games with the Rangers. He also had three goals and seven assists in 23 games for Hartford in the AHL.
Brannstrom, 25, has 10 goals and 67 assists in 294 games. Dorrington, 20, was drafted by Vancouver in the sixth round of the 2022 draft.
