With reported tension between JT Miller and Elias Pettersson, the Vancouver Canucks may be forced to trade one of them.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the Canucks have begun testing the trade market for these two forwards, but have specific requests.
“So in calling, here’s what I can say” » said Friedman. “It’s that the Canucks are definitely looking at the market for both players, and you should be prepared for any outcome. There are actually three: none are distributed, one of them is distributed, or both are distributed.
“It’s on the table, and I don’t want to predict the likelihood of any particular scenario, but I think all three of these outcomes are possible. Other things I can say, just from making calls, if the Canucks make a trade, they’ll need a center in return.
The New York Rangers are a team interested in Miller according to multiple NHL insiders.
Despite an intrigue to acquire Miller from Rangers general manager Chris Drury, there are hurdles both sides would need to overcome to finalize a deal.
“I think Rangers are interested, but I don’t know how easy this game is going to be,” Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast. “If Vancouver wanted to do Zibanejad and, again, Zibanejad also has a no-movement clause, then they would have to want to do it, I think it could already be done. I’m not counting on that.
“The guy Vancouver would really like is Schneider, but I’m not at all convinced the Rangers would want to do that. In fact, I’m convinced they wouldn’t just because I think they want to keep Schneider.
The Rangers should be considered the favorites in the Miller sweepstakes.
