The aftermath of the unsuccessful trade between the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers involving J.T. Miller, initially reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Saturday, continues to unfold.
The Athletic has revealed significant details about the proposed deal, which included center Filip Chytil, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and a first-round draft pick. However, the trade ultimately collapsed due to a dispute regarding the draft pick’s protection.
“Rangers center Filip Chytil, defenseman Ryan Lindgren and some future-focused assets, including a first-round pick could have been involved,” The Athletic reported. “One source briefed on the trade talks indicated that a disagreement on the protection structure of a first-round pick was a key hurdle.”
The Athletic described the proposed return as “relatively meager” considering J.T. Miller’s value. Rick Dhaliwal suggested that two players scratched by the Rangers’ AHL affiliate (Adam Sykora, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, and Jaroslav Chmelar) were linked to the Miller trade discussions—a detail noted in The Athletic’s report, though it could not be confirmed.
“The Rangers surprisingly scratched several Hartford Wolfpack players on Saturday, although it was unclear if it was trade-related,” The Athletic reported.
The Athletic’s report mentioned Chytil and Lindgren, both former first- and second-round picks by the Rangers.
Chytil, a 25-year-old center, has recorded 18 points in 37 games this season and could help address Vancouver’s long-term needs at center, particularly if Miller is traded.
Lindgren, 26, has been a dependable partner for Adam Fox on New York’s top defensive pairing and has contributed 11 points (two goals) in 41 games this season.
With Lindgren set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, his future adds another layer of intrigue. Meanwhile, Miller, 31, has posted 31 points in 35 games this season, but his $8 million cap hit and full no-move clause complicate potential trade scenarios.
