There is no shortage of teams interested in acquiring Vancouver Canucks centreman JT Miller. While the talk has mostly been surrounding the New York Rangers, given a recent trade that was close to the finish line but was ultimately nixed, and the New Jersey Devils, a new team has entered the conversation.
The Carolina Hurricanes.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first mentioned the Hurricanes as possible suitors this morning on his podcast, 32 Thoughts:
“I think there’s somebody out there right now we’re just not seeing yet. One team I do wonder about…is Carolina. They’re a team that makes some sense to me. Don’t know for sure, but makes sense to me.”
Friedman shared details on his segment on Donnie & Dhali that the belief is Miller’s preference if traded is to a team in the Eastern United States.
Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal also mentioned the Hurricanes as a potential team interested in the Canucks centreman:
“So, Canucks have given teams permission to talk with Miller. One team Elliotte Friedman said this morning to keep an eye on is the Hurricanes. Well, guess what, Donnie, 24-year-old centre – and I hate this, but anyways – Jesperi Kotkaniemi he would make sense for the Canucks.
“The Canucks really liked him in his draft year, and UFA forward Jack Roslovic is a player the Canucks have liked in the past. He’s having a good year, 17 goals. When he was in Columbus, the Canucks tried to get him.
“So, the Carolina talk is picking up this morning. A lot of Carolina talk this morning. Keep an eye on Carolina.”
Kotkaniemi, 24, is the former third-overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL draft. The Finnish centreman has six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 46 games this season, averaging 13:53 minutes of average ice time. He has five years remaining on his current contract, which pays him $4.82 million annually.
Roslovic, 27, is a former 15th-overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL draft. The Columbus, Ohio, native has played centre in the past but has spent the majority of the season playing on the wing of the top line with Sebastian Aho. He has 17 goals and eight assists for 25 points in 46 games this season, averaging 14:20 minutes of average ice time. He is currently on a one-year deal that pays him $2.8 million annually.
Despite the recent nixed trade between the Canucks and the Rangers, they are not out of the conversation to acquire the centreman. However, the Hurricanes are now in on the Miller sweepstakes.
-1734140650-q80.webp "Elliotte Friedman gives concerning quote while speaking about J.T. Miller's leave from the team and his comeback")
