NHL Rumors: Insider claims Canucks "turned down" Rangers' J.T. Miller trade proposal involving $68,000,000 star

Recent reporting suggests that the New York Rangers tried to trade Mika Zibanejad to the Vancouver Canucks for J.T. Miller. According to The Athletic’s Josh Yohe, the Canucks turned down the proposal.

The Rangers have shown interest in Miller, who started his NHL career in New York and played there for six seasons.

"Speaking of Vancouver, there is plenty of chatter out there about Pittsburgh-area native J.T. Miller," Yohe wrote, "Earlier this season, the Rangers offered struggling center Mika Zibanejad to Vancouver in return for Miller. The Canucks turned down the offer. It’s no secret that the Rangers are very interested in Miller, who was drafted by New York in 2011 and played his first six NHL seasons there."

Miller, 31, has a 7-year, $56 million contract with a cap hit of $8 million per year. Zibanejad, also 31, is signed to an 8-year, $68 million deal, with a cap hit of $8.5 million. The trade would've allowed the Rangers to acquire Miller with smaller cap space and big offensive potential. Miller scored his career-high 103 points in the 2023-24 NHL season.

Zibanejad has been productive for the Rangers this season, with 8 goals and 16 assists in 39 games. However, his points are higher in wins (19 points in 18 victories) and lower in losses (5 points in 21 games).

Miller has also been a strong player for the Canucks, scoring 8 goals and 21 assists in 29 games. His best performances have come in wins, with 15 points in 13 victories. They are currently in fourth place in the Pacific Division with an 18-12-9 record. Miller is playing a key role in team's success

The Rangers have already traded captain Jacob Trouba and forward Kaapo Kakko. Chris Drury, the Rangers’ president and GM, appears to be making changes to their roster. However, Vancouver have decided not to trade Miller for Zibanejad at this time.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Canucks' J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson

There are reports of tension between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, leading Vancouver to consider trades. They are exploring options for both players and are open to different outcomes.

During Sportsnet's "Saturday Headlines" on January 4, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said:

“So in calling around, this is what I can tell. It’s that the Canucks are definitely, definitely looking at the market for both players, and you should be prepared for all outcomes. There’s really three of them: neither gets dealt, one of them gets dealt, or both get dealt."

Friedman had mentioned that the Rangers are interested in Miller.