Rumor: Canucks: Should I stay or should I go? Pete stays and Miller goes!

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Vancouver was probably attempting to keep the NYR pick and flip their own for a missing piece. Makes the line in the sand make sense.
Likelihood of a second move in waiting would be less likely with all the issues around closing this one.
That said I can see why NYR balk at dropping the protection.

Something I was flipping around in my shell of a head was the NYR play is to get Miller to open up. Packages being leaked and continuation of deals not working l, suggests something else is up.
I don't know if it was the 2025 or 2026 first round pick. I'd imagine NYR not wanting to straight up hand over the 2026 without some protection. For the 2025, we don't know if it was top 3 protected, top 10 protected, or conditioned with a playoff round. The organization doesn't believe in this group. It's pretty obvious at this point. So I can see why they wouldn't want to just hand over 1st round, unprotected picks.
 
It kind of is because you can't just will your way into trading a player with a NMC. I guess Drury thinks he can and has had success in doing so, but I think with Zibanejad it'll be even more difficult because it's a bigger contract with more years, a worse buyout (making the threat more hollow), and unlike Trouba he actually seems like he's doesn't give a f*** about his career anymore and is completely content in his mediocrity. Trouba wasn't even saying no to waiving in the past. It was that his wife was saying no.

And the alternative that it doesn't work out and you're stuck with 3 32 year olds on the decline taking up over 22M of your cap is not a tenable situation in the slightest. They may not even be a good center core next year after further decline, let alone this year. You can't punt something like that down the road. You need to deal with it upfront.

Coming back to this... it's extremely rare that an NMC is ultimately used to prevent being traded at all. Traded to a specific place? Sure. But players don't want to play for teams that don't want them there and nearly every player with an NMC that teams have actively tried to trade has ended up accepting a move. It's not especially common that teams want to trade players with NMCs, because there are reasons players got them in the first place, but when it does happen it's less of a block and more of a shunt.

Fans wring their hands far too much about these situations not working out. The body of evidence shows the opposite.
 
Yeah Carolina being in on Miller doesn't make a lot of sense to be with how they run their org. Perhaps the weak state of the eastern conference this year has them feeling risky.
I think it makes sense if the CAR front office thinks they can turn Kotkaniemi and Roslovic into Miller. I doubt that The Canucks front office is down with that though, but even with Miller’s age and contract, he’s still a very effective player and Canes will be swimming in cap space this summer. If they can add Miller, while also getting out from the Kotkaniemi deal, they would still have oodles of space to add another scorer and goalie upgrade this summer.

Now, I don’t really think the Canes will end up with Miller, but I definitely see them hanging around to see if they can snipe a distressed asset for lower than normal prices.
 
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I think it makes sense if the CAR front office thinks they can turn Kotkaniemi and Roslovic into Miller. I doubt that The Canucks front office is down with that though, but even with Miller’s age and contract, he’s still a very effective player and Canes will be swimming in cap space this summer. If they can add Miller, while also getting out from the Kotkaniemi deal, they would still have oodles of space to add another scorer and goalie upgrade this summer.

Now, I don’t really think the Canes will end up with Miller, but I definitely see them hanging around to see if they can snipe a distressed asset for lower than normal prices.
Yeah, I really feel like (from a VAN perspective) that it would have to be KK + Drury, in terms of roster players. Roslovic isn't much of an asset (especially since he's a UFA-to-be), and should probably just stick around in CAR (he seems like he's been good!). That would still give CAR a very solid top 9 C core of Aho-Miller-Staal, you would just end up with Jost at 4C (or need another C upgrade, just a much smaller one).
 
Yeah, I really feel like (from a VAN perspective) that it would have to be KK + Drury, in terms of roster players. Roslovic isn't much of an asset (especially since he's a UFA-to-be), and should probably just stick around in CAR (he seems like he's been good!). That would still give CAR a very solid top 9 C core of Aho-Miller-Staal, you would just end up with Jost at 4C (or need another C upgrade, just a much smaller one).
Roslovic+Kotkaniemi works from a cap perspective. By subtracting those 2 and adding Miller, it’s roughly only a $300K addition for CAR in overall cap hit. I don’t think they’d add Drury to Kotkaniemi as then they’re short a C even while adding Miller and Drury is also one of Brind’Amour’s favorites.

That’s not to say I think Kotkaniemi + Roslovic is fair from a Canucks perspective. I’d think the Canes would have to add a 1st or a Morrow/Unger Sorum/Nadeau level prospect. I’m just not sure the Canes front office sees it that way. I’d be pretty surprised if they would part with Morrow, could maybe see them
parting with a Nadeau or Unger Sorum, given their depth at RW. I’d think they more easily part with this years 1st than any of their current prospects.

The Canes also have a ton of RD depth after Morrow - Heimosalmi, Legault, Badinka, Nystrom - who all are tracking well, so could see some interest there too. Out of the Russians, obviously Nikishin is off the table, but Artamonov is also tracking very well and they have some other intriguing names like Trikozov/Rhykov/etc that maybe the Canucks like. I could see them dealing Koktaniemi + Roslovic plus a few of their lower-tier prospects for Miller, similar to the Guentzel deal, if the Canucks like what the Canes have in their system outside of Morrow/Nadeau/Unger Sorum.
 
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If a deal with the Rangers can become resurrected, I think it's very difficult. I don't think it's a fit between these teams.

Essentially the only way it makes sense for the Rangers includes Zibanejad. Maybe that's with a futures sweetener back to the Canucks, but that's still a difficult deal to make happen.

The discussed "Chytil, Sykora, Chmelar for Miller deal" people were talking about may not be bad from a value perspective for the Rangers, but it still creates all sort of cap problems going into next year with three high priced 32 year old centers, two of which are very risky propositions (and that's a generous way of putting it for Zibanejad).

I really don't see how it makes any sense to include Lafreniere or Schneider like the Canucks want. That doesn't solve any of the Rangers problems to make that deal. The team isn't in this "panic, spin the wheel and find a trade" mode people think. They're playing their best hockey all season. Arguably the best hockey in the league the last few weeks. No team makes some "YOLO' trade then.
lol best hockey in the league??? Not sure which league you’re referring to but it can’t be the NHL. Team still sucks a pigs ass they’re just getting a few more points lately.
 
No thanks from VAN pov.

Can Scott Morrow even beat out Tom Willander? Willander is looking great and projected to leave College and join the Canucks in spring.

ROR is always a nice addition but I dont think he can carry a 2nd line which is what the Canucks would need him to do.
Morrow would be ur second best defender that being said the trade above is terrible.
 
That's hilarious on Nikishin. He's probably a top 5 player not in the NHL. He's not getting traded for Miller. Maybe for EP (but he's not leaving Van) But for real, Canes won't be taking on Miller unless some $$$ is moved out. Isn't the word that Van wants a Center back?

KK or Drury, Morrow (Canes top RHD prospect) another mid level prospect and a 1st. Vancouver seemingly has asked for Laf / Schneider and it didn't get anywhere. Some Jersey fans are ready to give up Nemec. Not sure Canes will actually ante up for what JR/Allvin are asking.
I remember when Cody Glass was the best player not in the NHL
 
That nixed NYR trade, like...how close was that to happening? That's not a great return.
It seems like a standard return for a high caliber player: roster player, good prospect and a 1st.

I remember when Cody Glass was the best player not in the NHL
Or when Keith Yandle was a superstar in Phoenix and suddenly became a third pairing dman once he left Arizona.

HF is full of hockey hipsters.
 
lol best hockey in the league??? Not sure which league you’re referring to but it can’t be the NHL. Team still sucks a pigs ass they’re just getting a few more points lately.
Second least regulation losses in the last 10 (only 1), and that regulation loss was 9 games ago (actually to the only team with 0, go figure). Also remember that we’ve been playing a very difficult schedule lately, and won almost all those games. The idea the Rangers haven’t been playing great hockey lately is not founded in reality.
 
Latest from TSN Insider Trading: Chris Johnston

Carolina, NJD, NYR continue to be the favorite to land Miller. Talks are constant and daily.

Dallas and other teams are following along and checking in but not actively offering anything yet.
 

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