Names Leaked in Rumored ‘Make or Break’ Miller Trade to Rangers

The rumored trade that almost took place on Saturday between the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers has seen a few details come to light over the last 12-24 hours. The Rangers, reportedly pursuing J.T. Miller, have garnered attention because the deal was reportedly close, then fell apart at the last minute. It wasn’t clear why the trade never took place or who was involved, but some of that (while not official) might be leaking.

According to recent reports from Elliotte Friedman and the New York Post’s Larry Brooks, the Rangers have been engaged in serious talks with the Canucks about acquiring Miller. “I’m planning on being a Canuck today, tomorrow. Whatever happens, happens. I’m focused on the next game,” said Miller after the Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night. But, it wasn’t believed Miller was originally going to play in that game. Friedman reported a trade was being worked on, and Miller almost sat pending the finalization of a deal. Ultimately, it never took place.

Friedman believed it was the Rangers the Canucks had been talking about, and while he didn’t report on the names going back to Vancouver, several names have started to surface. Mika Zibanejad seemed like the obvious fit, but there has been reports of Alexis Lafrenière and Braden Schneider being part of the dicussions.

Rangers Must Want Miller Badly If Considering This Trade

According to Brooks (h/t @BaldPanarin):

“Mika Zibanejad will not be part of the bounty going to Vancouver in a potential deal for Miller…It is believed that Alexis Lafreniere’s name has been prominent in the discussion.”

Lafrenière, a former first-overall pick, is rumored to have been a focal point in discussions between the two teams. The 21-year-old winger — who has 25 points in 45 games this season — has yet to fully meet the high expectations of being a top pick, but his ceiling is undeniable. Potentially trading Lafrenière for the 31-year-old Miller, can’t be an easy decision to make. He just recently signed a long-term extension worth $7.45 million per season.

Another name reportedly included in the trade talks is Braden Schneider. This is someone the Canucks have said to have had a keen interest in for some time. He is a promising young defenseman. To date, the Rangers have not seriously contemplated moving him in a trade.

At best, this trade remains on hold. Reports seem to suggest this got fairly close, but it was also said that the Canucks hadn’t gotten to the point of asking Miller to waive his no-move clause. That means there a more than a few i’s to do and t’s to cross.Whether the reports of Lafrenière and Schneider being included are accurate remains to be seen. For Rangers general manager Chris Drury, this potential trade could make or break his run as a manager. , Both for the team’s short-term future and his own job security are probably on the line with this one.