Rangers potentially facing tampering consequences for Miller trade

New York Rangers left winger J.T. Miller. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Rangers potentially facing serious tampering consequences during the J.T. Miller trade

Originally posted on Blade of Steel
By Graham Montgomery | Last updated Feb 9, 2025 4:10 PM ET

The New York Rangers could potentially be in serious trouble after reports have emerged of potential tampering in the J.T. Miller trade.

At the end of last month, the Rangers and Canucks made a huge splash on the trade market, with Miller returning to New York.

While the trade was certainly a huge one, it seems as though there may have been more to it than we first realized.

According to the Athletic's Peter Baugh there were interpersonal relationships at play behind the scenes that may have influenced the trade.

Miller is good friends with Rangers center Vinny Trocheck and apparently, their wives are quite close as well.

As Baugh reports, both players' wives were pushing them to make the trade happen.

"A little less than a month ago, Hillary Trocheck surprised Natalie Miller for her birthday, flying across North America for a surprise visit in Vancouver. Both their husbands, Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, were on hockey road trips for the Rangers and Canucks, respectively, and the wives reached out. The two of them, they were pushing us: 'Oh you guys have got to get this trade done!'" Vincent Trocheck said. "We're like, 'We don't have any say.'"

Trocheck has also gone on the record stating that Rangers general manager Chris Drury approached him personally, asking him if he knew how Miller might feel about returning to the team.

Trocheck then says that he did talk to Miller about that possibility, presumably before the Rangers began to have serious trade discussions with the Canucks.

"(Chris Drury) came to me whenever he thought it might be a possibility that J.T. would be traded. Just asked if it was something that J.T. would be willing to do, come to New York. That was just the start of the process. And then talking to J.T., seeing if New York was somewhere he wanted to be was the next step."

This all feels especially relevant given the fact that the Canucks specifically warned teams about tampering as they were negotiating the Miller trade.

It will be interesting to see if the Canucks issue a complaint to the league office regarding this matter or if the NHL will launch an investigation into the trade.

If they do, we could potentially see the Rangers get a massive fine, or worse, the forfeiture of draft picks.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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