NHL trade rumors: $52,150,000 NY Rangers forward's 'prominent' in trade talks over Mika Zibanejad

According to reports, the NY Rangers are among the teams interested in acquiring forward J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks, with Mika Zibanejad being one of the players heavily involved in trade discussions with the Canucks.

Reports suggest that negotiations between the Rangers and the Canucks regarding a potential trade for Miller are advancing. However, according to Larry Brooks of the NY Post, Zibanejad won't be included in the trade package.

Instead, Alexis Lafreniere's name has emerged as a prominent player in these discussions.

“Mika Zibanejad will not be part of the bounty going to Vancouver in a potential deal for Miller. … It is believed that Alexis Lafrenière’s name has been prominent in the discussion,” Brooks wrote.

The reason Zibanejad is not as desirable for the Canucks compared to Lafreniere is that he has a no-move clause in his contract.

Additionally, Zibanejad's age may also factor into their decision, as they might prefer younger players like Lafreniere who have more potential for growth and development in their roster.

Lafreniere is signed to a seven-year, $52 million contract with the NY Rangers, which he inked in October last year.

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Eliiotte Friedman says J.T. Miller's trade with NY Rangers broke down

Ahead of Sunday's game between the Canucks and Oilers, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that a blockbuster trade involving J.T. Miller and the Rangers fell through.

Friedman noted that Miller was expected to play, but there was a period in the last 24 hours when it seemed that he would be held out of the lineup due to advancing trade talks with the Blueshirts.

However, the situation changed, and the trade didn't go through.

"J.T. Miller I expect is going to play tonight, unless something changes at the last minute. But there was a time in the last 24 hours where J.T. Miller was not going to play.He was going to be held out of the lineup because talks were progressing on a trade, I believe that team to be the New York Rangers," Friedman said.

"Now I don't know exactly what happened but that trade is off right now. ... Things had progressed to a certain point where he was definitely not going to play," he added.

Interestingly, the reason why the trade between the Canucks and NY Rangers fell through is unknown, as is whether Alexis Lafreniere's name was mentioned in the discussions.