Friedman: Carolina is interested in JT Miller

[MadeUpName]

Miller would be a perfect fit in Carolina and would be a key piece to push them over the edge in the next 2-3 years while they still have Aho/Slavin/Pesce on good, pre-UFA deals, but Carolina doesn't do deals like this. They don't pay significant prices for acquisitions and they don't pay big contracts lasting well into a players 30's.

Too bad because it's a great fit both ways in theory. Carolina's window is open right now and that team is begging for an acquisition to push them over the top. Miller would help their powerplay and could slot at centre or wing as needed. Meanwhile the Canucks will suck for the first half of Miller's contract which makes it pointless for us, and we could use any of Car's top d prospects.

lol at you thinking Vancouver would get a top D prospect for JT Miller. Closer to future considerations a-la Pacioretty.

 

[UrbanImpact]

That’s if Carolina feels it should dump KK especially with Miller being a meh center, at best

By all means if theres a trade for Miller to Carolina and KK doesnt have to come back that would be even more ideal. picks and prospects would do.

 

[BKarchitect]

This seems like the exact kind of move the Canes would never do.

 

[JKG33]

I think the Kadri contract, and light market for him is more likely. So 7m x 7 still a solid contract.

Miller is both better and younger than Kadri. And up until this year was better than Horvat who just got more. As a UFA the contract Miller just got would be the minimum

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

It makes no sense to me why not. The cup they won was because of deals like this. Acquiring Weight and Recchi cost a lot of futures, but no cup without it. Now they seem unwilling to do it, and they can't seem to get passed the second round these last 2 years. They seriously need to make win now moves before their window closes. They can't rely on "Anything can happen in the playoffs"

It really didn't cost "a lot of futures".

The only "future" of value in the Weight trade was a late 1st round pick. Boulerice and Zigamanis were no longer futures and not full time NHLers. They traded rights for two prospects: Rajamaki (8th round pick) rights came to Carolina, Kahnber (7th round pick) came to St. Louis), which was nothing and two 4th round picks.

The only thing of value in the Recchi trade was a 2007 2nd round pick. Nordgren(27 year old former 8th round pick) wasn't a future or an NHLer. Kolanas was a 26 year old former 1st rounder who was an AHLer, again, not a future.

So in all that, the futures they gave up were a late 1st, a late 2nd and two 4th round picks for Weight AND Recchi. That's not a whole lot of "futures".

 

[TheFinalWord]

That’s if Carolina feels it should dump KK especially with Miller being a meh center, at best

Is this a joke? KK's highest PPG was 36 in a season, but he has never scored more than 34 in a season, and is on pace to not reach 34 again. JT Miller has 46 pts so far this season, with a PPG of 74 in a down year. Definitely want to stick with KK for the win. Who needs those meh players who will double your player's points.

 

[LBCANUCK]

id keep miller over KK despite the age. You don't win stanley cups with players like KK.

 

[Chainshot]

Feels like the information in the OP points to "Carolina were interested in JT Miller" instead of "Carolina IS interested in JT Miller".

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Does anyone have the actual statements, VERBATIM, made by Friedman in this podcast?

 

[quat]

Lol. Wow. Overstating things much? For the record what ACTUALLY happened is Pettersson attempted a reverse hit on Kotkaniemi, they got tangled up and went down awkwardly. After the game Pettersson, Green and Horvat all stated there was nothing dirty about the play and it was just an unfortunate result.

That's of course ignoring the FACT Kotkaniemi had a shiv concealed under his shin guard and was in the process of getting ready to surreptitiously gut Pettersson when the refs stepped in. Some people just don't see what's actually happening in games these days. Not sure if it's sad or pathetic.

 

[mriswith]

lol at you thinking Vancouver would get a top D prospect for JT Miller. Closer to future considerations a-la Pacioretty.

You might be right on what he'll cost if moved because Vancouver is in such a terrible position with him where we can't use any of his prime years for anything meaningful and need to dump him. I'd dump him for cheap in our position because he has negative value to our team if we go into a rebuild.

But I also think it's a mis-evaluation by other teams in the middle of their contention windows if he's actually that cheap to acquire. I'd have killed to add a player like Miller to the Canucks circa 2009-2012, contract included.

Exactly like I think trading Horvat was the right move for us for the same reasons, but a lot of contenders should be kicking themselves for missing out and not bidding higher.

 

[belair]

That KK contract is ridiculous. Miller’s contract is actually a relatively good deal. For now.

Kotkaniemi's contract will age well on a team that can afford to give him opportunity. Miller's isn't trending well and it hasn't even started.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

He said this during the 1st intermission between the Rangers and nucks, but said it was around last season and (I don't remember exactly what he said) was either part of a three way trade that also involved M. Tkachuk, or he was a target after the Canes missed out on Tkachuk

 

[BB88]

I wouldn’t risk messing up the locker room

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

lol at you thinking Vancouver would get a top D prospect for JT Miller. Closer to future considerations a-la Pacioretty.

Not if Vancouver takes back a bad contract like KK.

 

[sting101]

Sorry, not sure what Van is thinking. No one is giving them a 1st rounder and top spects for Miller and that horrible contract. They should just get out of his contract, they are obviously rebuilding. Why tie up the cap space for him?

funny part is you just gave up 3 assets for a worse contract

 

[MadeUpName]

Not if Vancouver takes back a bad contract like KK.

Carolina doesn't need Vancouver to take back KK. Nor do they need to pay anyone to take him.

Carolina wrote KK's contract with the understanding that they have 3 or so years to develop him the way they want before the cheap buyout window ends. If Carolina wins their gamble they have a cheap middle-6 C. If they lose them they have an $800k Cap penalty. Easy tradeoff to make.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Is this a joke? KK's highest PPG was 36 in a season, but he has never scored more than 34 in a season, and is on pace to not reach 34 again. JT Miller has 46 pts so far this season, with a PPG of 74 in a down year. Definitely want to stick with KK for the win. Who needs those meh players who will double your player's points.

Points arent all that determines a good center. Its no mystery that Miller isn’t a very good center. He scores but does little else to be a good center. Rod is very hard on centers as far as their 200 foot and positional responsibilities.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

Carolina doesn't need Vancouver to take back KK. Nor do they need to pay anyone to take him.

Carolina wrote KK's contract with the understanding that they have 3 or so years to develop him the way they want before the cheap buyout window ends. If Carolina wins their gamble they have a cheap middle-6 C. If they lose them they have an $800k Cap penalty. Easy tradeoff to make.

Ok. I’m just saying that if Carolina wants to improve their chances at a Cup run over the next few years, and likes Miller, then it makes sense to dump KK to free up cap space. Obviously they don’t have to, but also it’s obvious that Miller over KK improves their chances at the Cup.

 

[TheFinalWord]

Points arent all that determine a good center. Its no mystery that Miller isn’t a very good center. He scores but does little else to be a good center. Rod is very hard on centers as far as their 200 foot and positional responsibilities.

For sure. How many votes did KK have for the Selke last year? Was it more than Miller? Or for the Hart? Or for the All Star team?

I'm not saying the Canes should trade for Miller...I'm just saying KK is trash compared to Miller.

 

[EP to EP back to EP]

It really didn't cost "a lot of futures".

The only "future" of value in the Weight trade was a late 1st round pick. Boulerice and Zigamanis were no longer futures and not full time NHLers. They traded rights for two prospects: Rajamaki (8th round pick) rights came to Carolina, Kahnber (7th round pick) came to St. Louis), which was nothing and two 4th round picks.

The only thing of value in the Recchi trade was a 2007 2nd round pick. Nordgren(27 year old former 8th round pick) wasn't a future or an NHLer. Kolanas was a 26 year old former 1st rounder who was an AHLer, again, not a future.

So in all that, the futures they gave up were a late 1st, a late 2nd and two 4th round picks for Weight AND Recchi. That's not a whole lot of "futures".

The value of Picks and older/players not working out had different value (nearly) 20 years ago. It was quite the haul at the time. And both deals were the truest words of rental. They got the players for the rest of the season and playoffs and then they went right back to their teams. Which is something that can't be done anymore.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

For sure. How many votes did KK have for the Selke last year? Was it more than Miller? Or for the Hart? Or for the All Star team?

I'm not saying the Canes should trade for Miller...I'm just saying KK is trash compared to Miller.

KK is the better center. Miller is the much better scorer.

 

[krutovsdonut]

unless there is another bidder to drive up the price, i think this will not happen. canes wlll be trying to steal him. as much as many canuck fans would like miller gone, this is not a patches or burns situation.

 

[Peen]

This seems like the exact kind of move the Canes would never do.

Why do you think that?

They like cost certainty if a player fits a role and has a floor that they like. They gave kotkaniemi eight years and took on Burns.

1. They don't like paying high acquisition costs for rentals.
2. They have a precedent of valuing contracts that other teams don't value - and i think it makes sense.
3. This is more of a league wide point, but the free agent market this summer looks awful.

 

[japhi]

By now, and really for a while, it has been clear that KK has limited upside. While still young he has played almost 300 games and has been given opportunities up and down the lineup on a very good team, including a good amount of PP time this year. He has a fatal flaw - he can't keep pace with top players, and if he hasn't improved his skating by now it likely doesn't get much better. Call me a salty Habs fan, but that is a fact.

Miller for KK would be a steal for a Canes team that is win now. I don't particularly love Miller but the Canes need a #2 C of they are not going anywhere in the playoffs which would be a tragedy consider how close this team is. Miller is almost for sure a ppg player on that team. And who cares if the deal is bad in 4 years, this is a win now team and there is always a way to get out from not so great contracts (this one isn't that bad, just doesn't make sense for Van).

And the math is KK + whatever they need to acquire for a playoff run VS Miller + KK's replacement. You could add Miller AND upgrade on KK for a playoff run.

Would be a great deal for both teams, Vancouver isn't winning now and keeps KK, or buys him out. Carolina goes into the playoffs with potentially 2 upgrades at C.