Another Thursday means another Trade Targets list is on it’s way, so Frank Seravalli gave us a sneak preview of it on Daily Faceoff Live, including a name familiar to the list from this past summer in Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller.
Colby Cohen: Another returnee to the board is a guy who you had on all last summer, I think we’ve talked about this one before, that’s J.T. Miller. It seems like every time we’re doing this show, we’re talking about Vancouver in one way or another, so what’s the latest? What is going on in Vancouver?
Frank Seravalli: Yeah, I think a lot of things are going on in Vancouver. They’re open to considering a lot of different options as they try and create salary cap flexibility. We know that Miller has that contract that’s due to kick in this summer, it is a seven-year deal x $8 million which will bring him to age 38, and it’s a significant consideration and commitment to J.T. Miller, who also has, with that new contract, a no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1.
First off, I think it’s a long shot right now, but if it were to happen in the summer, the consideration that team would have to make is “would we sign J.T. Miller to this contract as a free agent, as it’s just set to kick in”. And I think there are a number of teams that would consider that, based on the real lack of difference-makers that are available or projected to be available with this summer’s free agent market.
So, that’s the calculus in play. Vancouver needs to create cap flexibility. I don’t know that they’re dying to move J.T. Miller, but I think the reason he makes my board is from the teams that I’ve talked to from around the NHL, enough are talking about Miller internally to certainly warrant his inclusion on the Trade Targets board.
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