Whenever there is a big name in the trade mill, you can bet the Carolina Hurricanes will be inquiring. It's a tale as old as time. However, the front office rarely pulls the trigger on the big names. The exception was last year when they acquired Jake Guentzel from the Penguins before the trade deadline.
This year, one of the biggest names on the block is Vancouver Canucks center JT Miller. There has been a lot of talk about the locker room situation with Elias Pettersson, whether it's blown out of proportion or not. As recently as this week, it was surmised that Miller was "destined" to be a Hurricane, but is that what's best for the team now and in the coming years?
There's no denying why Miller is so sought after. Drafted in the first round by the Rangers in 2011, Miller spent most of his time in New York as a decent producer in the lower 20s in goals and upper 50s in points. He was shipped to Tampa Bay at the 2018 deadline. After a good and short stint with the Bolts, Miller was traded once more to the Canucks, where he has been since the 2019-20 season.
With the Canucks, Miller has taken his game to the next level. He has set career highs in goals and points several times during his five full seasons. Last season, Miller made his first All-Star team, finishing with 37 goals and 103 points. In 36 games this season, he has 32 points. Miller has also contributed to Vancouver's recent playoff runs, scoring 30 points in 30 games across two postseasons.
If the Canes were to acquire Miller, it would be an immediate upgrade over who they currently have as the 2C. No disrespect to Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jack Drury, but Miller provides a level of offense neither has attained at the NHL level. Under the perfect circumstances, he could be a complimentary 2C to Sebastian Aho and a good valve for Martin Necas.
While JT Miller, the player, would be an excellent addition, there are concerns about JT Miller, the personality, meshing with the group. Miller is known for being very brash and straightforward, especially when he doesn't like what's going on. Who could forget his incident with goalie and teammate Collin Delia a few seasons ago? Miller yelled at him to get off the ice for the extra attacker late in a game, slamming his stick on the net.
Concerns like this aren't a new issue for this organization. We lived through the days of Tony DeAngelo being a Hurricane and escaped unscathed. I don't think the team brings him in if they aren't 100 percent sure he's willing to be all in. Rod Brind'Amour runs a tight ship and the culture is well stated. If there were any issues, Miller wouldn't be on the team's radar.
The next major hurdle is the price, and that concerns both what it will cost to get him from Vancouver and what he'll be owed. Miller is 31 and in the second year of a seven-year contract, meaning he would be under contract until the end of the 2029-30 season, barring a buyout or trade. His cap hit is $8 million per season, which would make him the second-highest hit on the Hurricanes after Aho.
In a realistic world, Miller might have three or four productive years left. Of course, there's no way of knowing that for sure, so that's the gamble the Canes would need to take if they really want to add him. They would need to find a way to make the math work, which could be doable with the contracts set to come off the books next season and the players waiting in the wings.
The Hurricanes have the pieces to acquire Miller. They have one of the richest prospect pools in the league and while they are known for valuing draft picks, they could use those to reel in another big catch on a more permanent basis. I think Kotkaniemi has to be the starting point for any return, given his current contract situation. There will be prospects off limits, like Alexander Nikishin, but if this is a serious inquiry, I wouldn't take many names off the table.
As in years past, I'll believe the hype when, and if, it happens. The Canes are sure to face stiff competition from their division rivals, namely the Rangers and the Devils if they have any hopes of acquiring JT Miller. I'm optimistic that his personality won't be an issue. All that matters is whether he can put up the points and help be a positive force in the Canes' efforts to win the Stanley Cup.