Bruins Could be Underdog in J.T. Miller Trade to Bolster Top Six

As per Sara Civian of Bleacher Report, watch the Boston Bruins as a bit of a sleeper team in trade talks involving J.T. Miller. While the main players are known to be the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, and Dallas Stars, Civian writes, “You can probably rule Pettersson out given the lack of assets and money the Bruins have to offer. But the Canucks are hearing teams out, so maybe they find a fit for unleashing Miller’s contract on Boston.”

The Bruins face mounting pressure to improve their top-six center depth but have limited cap space and assets to make a big move. As such, a splashy trade seems like a long shot. With a projected $4.775 million in cap space at the trade deadline, they would need to come up with a package that entices the Canucks.

The good news for the Bruins is that Vancouver is learning that several teams they’re talking to aren’t prepared to offer solid roster players. The Hurricanes and Devils, for example, are more likely to move futures. The Canucks have gotten a bit more flexible in their discussions, but ideally, they’d prefer to add players who can help immediately.

J.T. Miller, carrying an $8 million AAV, could be a more realistic option than Elias Pettersson if the Canucks are open to a deal. Miller, a versatile forward who seems to have the kind of intensity the Bruins like in their players, would address the team’s offensive issues.

What Would the Bruins Offer to Get Miller in a Trade?

Civian suggests names coming back could be Pavel Zacha or Charlie Coyle. Either could provide the Canucks with affordable center depth. They would also clear some cap space to make a second move if they felt the need to upgrade.