Grading the trade: New York Rangers acquire J.T. Miller

Miller, defenseman Erik Brannstrom and blueline prospect Jackson Dorrington were traded to New York. Going the other way is talented (though injury-prone) center Filip Chytil, hulking defensive prospect Victor Mancini and a top-13-protected 2025 first-round pick that, if it doesn’t convey, will become unprotected in 2026.

Vancouver Grade: C

The drama surrounding Miller has been discussed ad nauseum. His feud with fellow Canucks star Elias Pettersson has clearly impacted the team both on and off the ice. Team president Jim Rutherford effectively admitted defeat earlier this week when he told Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail that "it certainly appears like there’s not a good solution that would keep this group together." Despite his talent and production, moving Miller could be a classic case of addition-by-subtraction.

Chytil will step right into Miller’s top-six role. A brilliant stickhandler, especially when travelling through the neutral zone at pace, the 25-year-old is still more of a theoretical producer than a consistent source of offense. Only once, in 2023, has Chytil averaged more than half a point per game. For a player who doesn’t provide much of a defensive presence, that’s a problem. That said, he has been somewhat constrained in New York as a third-line center with little to no power-play time. With added responsibility in Vancouver, he could thrive.

The primary concern around acquiring Chytil is his history of concussions. He missed most of last season with a major concussion, including a scary episode at training when on the comeback trail. Every time Chytil accelerates through the neutral zone, Rangers fans are equal parts excited and frightened. At this point, every hit Chytil takes could be his last.

Mancini is an intriguing prospect, the 22-year-old made his NHL debut on opening night, appearing in 15 games for New York. At 6-foot-3, he is a big unit who likes to throw a big hit from time to time, and he skates reasonably well. He had five points in his 15 games, but he likely doesn’t project as a difference-maker offensively.

The pick Vancouver acquires is clearly a boon. The protections simply protect the Rangers if they’re unable to rescue their season.

New York grade: B

On the ice, Miller is a clear upgrade on Chytil, with four seasons at more than a point per game for Vancouver. He broke the 100-point threshold last season (at a +32 for good measure) after finishing on 99 points in 2022. He is a three-time 30 goal scorer with a knack for burying game-winners, having scored an even 50 over his NHL career. He’s also excellent in the faceoff circle — an area where Chytil struggles — giving New York a second faceoff ace alongside Vincent Trocheck. Miller has centered Rangers veteran Chris Kreider in the past and the club will be hoping that they can regenerate the chemistry they had close to a decade ago.

An infamously prickly personality, Miller’s presence in the dressing room could light a fire under a group that hasn’t demonstrated much resilience this season. He could also quickly alienate a notoriously fickle group.

Miller’s acquisition could also give the Rangers license to move on from Mika Zibanejad, who has, to put it kindly, experienced an inconsistent campaign.

Brannstrom is an outstanding skater on the blueline. He can move the puck and quarterback a power play. That said, it never really happened for him in Ottawa, and he has already worn out his welcome in just half a season in Vancouver. He doesn’t offer a whole lot defensively, outside of recovery speed. Given the Rangers have found recent success in restoring the reputation of fringe defenders in Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen, perhaps general manager Chris Drury is happy to go to that well one more time. His presence makes the underappreciated Zac Jones expendable.

Dorrington is a reasonable prospect, but he doesn’t have that singular skill that he can hang his hat on at the NHL level. At this point, he projects as a jack-of-all-trades, third-pairing defenseman.