It looks like more details are being made public about the nixed JT Miller deal. Per Thomas Drance, Filip Chytil and Ryan Lindgren were rumored to be a part of the nixed JT Miller deal that fell through over the weekend. This deal would have included two of Adam Sykora, Jaroslav Chmelar, and Bo Groulx, who were all scratched over the weekend for the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Report: Nixed Miller trade included Chytil, Lindgren going to Canucks : r/hockey

To be clear, that’s their current 2C, at least one–possibly two–high ceiling prospect (to be fair, likely middle-six, but high ceiling nonetheless), and a 1st round pick for an upgrade at 2C with far more cap commitment. Lindgren would be addition by subtraction, so there’s that.

Moving Chytil and the prospects isn’t a big deal. Moving them for Miller, to me, is. That’s a very clear distinction. And if the rumor that it was 1st round pick protections that broke the deal, then Drury was ready to make yet another bad trade because of tunnel vision. This wouldn’t be the first time, of course.

The question to ask: Does the upgrade to Miller from Chytil move the needle enough to take the Rangers from outside the wild card spot to true Cup contender this year? Does he move the needle enough next season? It’s hard to answer. Chytil’s injury history is a concern. But will Miller’s attitude issues–this is the third team that has moved on from him due to these concerns–age (he’s turning 32 in March), and potential declining production rear their ugly heads?

The JT Miller deal, at least this one proposed, could be an absolute disaster with little upside. High risk, low reward is not how to build a team. But I appear to be in the minority on this one.