Blockbuster three-team trade scenario sends J.T. Miller back to the Rangers!

With everything going on in Vancouver from Canucks star forward J.T. Miller missing time on a leave of absence and the latest reports of a rift between him and teammate Elias Pettersson, many trade rumours have emerged and one specific scenario has fans anxious.

Former NHL executive Steve Werier recently pitched a blockbuster trade scenario revolving around Miller in which three teams would need to get involved ; the Canucks, the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings.

In his proposed transaction, Werier not only gets Miller involved, but also Rangers’ veteran Chris Kreider, who was a healthy scratch in the Rangers’ humiliating 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, and defenseman Ryan Lindgren from New York as well.

See the full details of his proposed trade scenario:

To the Canucks: JT Compher (four years left at $5.1M AAV), Ryan Lindgren (expiring $4.5M deal), Detroit’s 2025 second-round pick, and the higher of Detroit’s two 2025 third-round picks.

To the Rangers: J.T. Miller ($8M AAV, under contract until 2029-30).

To the Red Wings: Chris Kreider (three years left at $6.5M AAV).

Werier said that Miller’s complete no-trade clause could inhibit a trade, although it soon turns into a 15-team no-trade clause:

“If you rephrase the return as «$3m longterm cap space and a late 1st» (an easy hop if DET’s 2nd is in the 35 OA range) then you get close to your premium asset. Comes down to how much (if at all) you think the mkt value of VAN’s asset has changed YTD.”

This is all hypothetical at this point, but you could wonder if a desperate general manager in the NHL, one of the hot seat, could take the risk to pull the trigger on that proposed transaction. Sounds like a guy like Chris Drury in New York, so who knows?!