NHL Trade Rumors: NY Rangers Interested in Notable Canucks Forward

It's well known in hockey circles at this point that the New York Rangers are open for business, and have made several players available for trade as they look to shake things up amidst a disappointing start to the season.

But who are they looking at bringing in as a possibility to recharge the troops?

According to a source of Arthur Staple and Peter Baugh in The Athletic, one target the Rangers have their eye on is a familiar face:

A league source said the Rangers recently inquired with the Canucks about J.T. Miller, who is currently on an indefinite leave of absence. Miller was a 2011 first-round pick by the Rangers and has been coveted by (NYR GM Chris) Drury before.

Miller began his career on Broadway after the Rangers made him their first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft. He spent the first six years of his career with the Blueshirts, before being dealt to Tampa Bay late in his 3rd consecutive 20-goal campaign.

The now-31-year-old has gone on to elevate his game to an entirely different level with the Canucks, as he's coming off his first 100-point season, and three straight 30+ goal years. The Rangers were also reportedly interested in Miller before the 2021-22 trade deadline, but the deal fell through.

But 2024-25 has been a troubling season for Miller, who was benched in the third period of a game earlier this month, and then proceeded to take a personal leave of absence from the team, and remains out indefinitely.

Could a move back to the Big Apple rejuvenate the talented center? Would the Rangers want to (be able to?) take on the remaining six years of his contract at an $8 million cap hit?

The Blueshirts currently find themselves on a four-game losing streak, and sit in 4th place in the Metropolitan Division, at 12-8-1.