J.T. Miller reveals contract talks with Vancouver Canucks not close
Anthony Scultore
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One player that has been in the rumor mill for a long time is Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller.
Appearing on the Dropping the Gloves podcast with John Scott, Miller revealed that he and the Canucks are not close on a new deal.
“It’s a new fit for our management. They’re there for three months,” Miller said. “At this point with negotiations we’re not as close as we’d like to be. I’m not 100%– everyone has a vision. I want to be here… That being said, if it’s not meant to be, I understand that too.”
J.T. Miller a top trade candidate next deadline
Miller, 29, registered 99 points in 80 games for the Canucks. He has one year left on his current deal which comes at a very affordable $5.25M cap hit. There’s rumblings that Miller wants to test the free agent market next summer, but his agent Brian Bartlett made staying in Vancouver a real possibility this offseason.
“I do think there’s a realistic path for an extension with the Canucks,” Bartlett told The Athletic (subscription required). “J.T. loves it in Vancouver… He would be on board with an extension. The part that we can’t answer is at what value or level the team places on him. From our end, from J.T’s end, there’s a path forward on an extension but it takes two to tango, I guess.”
Canucks President Jim Rutherford echoed those sentiments but noted that a trade is on the table.
“I think when the impatience [for a trade] should come on J.T. Miller is when we get closer to the trade deadline,” Rutherford said via NHL.com. “If we don’t have him signed at that point, making sure that we get a return for him. But I don’t see where there’s any urgency until we get to the trade deadline.”
Miller is set to for a big raise. Although term may be a sticky issue, his next AAV should easily break $8 million.
Miller says trade rumors are overblown
The speculation on trade rumors regarding Miller for almost two seasons has been overblown according to the forward. When it comes to the noise, Miller told Scott that most of those rumors are fake.
“The media drove themselves crazy,” Miller joked. “There was nothing real. Every time a team pops up, 99% was not real. I was traded to the Penguins 20 times this summer. It’s a lot of B.S. on the internet.”
While that may be the case, several of the top insiders and Rutherford himself have talked about a trade. Thus far, it appears the Canucks haven’t gotten an offer they like. When the trade deadline roles around this upcoming season, if the two sides don’t have an extension in place, Miller is almost certain to be moved.
Keep your eyes on top contenders to make a move for him including the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Those are teams that have been mentioned most often over the last year.
At the end of day, Miller is top forward that plays a hard game with skill. That’s the type of player teams covet come postseason action, so expect the list of suitors to grow when the time comes.