J.T. Miller will return to the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup when they play the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, the team confirmed.
The star centerman missed Vancouver’s previous game, an overtime win in Dallas, but will return at home against the Wild from a lower-body injury.
Miller’s trade status for tomorrow’s deadline is murky, to say the least. The forward carries a $5.25 million cap hit, but his contract will increase to $8 million AAV through 2030 and include a no-trade clause beginning in the summer.
Many contending teams have already expended the last of their financial wiggle room. For Vancouver to find a dance partner with Miller’s current cap hit, an organization would have to bite the bullet on what essentially would become a $56 million free-agent signing.
Factor in Vancouver’s deadline strategy so far and matters become even more unclear. Despite having traded former captain Bo Horvat to the Islanders, dealing veteran defenseman Luke Schenn to the Maple Leafs, and considerable speculation around Brock Boeser’s future, the Canucks have not necessarily committed to a rebuild.
On Wednesday, the team struck a deal with the Detroit Red Wings for offensive defenseman Filip Hronek. A first-round pick from the Horvat trade was included in the trade, which bizarrely made the Canucks buyers despite their 24-31-5 record.
If Canucks GM Patrick Allvin is planning to compile a competitive roster next season for new coach Rick Tocchet, Miller may stay put after all.
Miller’s extension came on the back of a 99-point explosion during the 2021-2022 season. The left-handed shot has 20 goals and 54 points in 59 games this year. Since arriving in Vancouver in 2019-2020, Miller has amassed an impressive 271 points in 261 games.
The Canucks will host a Wild team with aspirations of playoff home ice at 10:00 pm ET tonight.
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