Report: JT Miller Trade Falls Through at 11th Hour

JT Miller did play for the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night. But it nearly didn't happen. According to insider Elliotte Friedman, Miller was supposed to be held out of the lineup as a trade to the New York Rangers was close. But in the end, it wasn't consummated... At least not yet.

Elliotte Friedman with an update on J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.

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"Talks were progressing on a trade, I believe that team to be the New York Rangers," said Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada. "I don't know exactly what happened, but that trade is off for right now... But things had progressed to a certain point where it looked like he wasn't going to play (last night)."

Friedman added that there are some teams that have been given permission to talk to Miller and his camp.

This isn't the first time we've heard Miller's name linked to the Rangers, in particular. They are thought to be a team that the Canucks star center would waive his no-move clause for, as he spent the first six years of his career there. It's possible that a deal could still get done.

As noted by Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet, if that was Miller's last game as a Canuck Saturday night, "it was a helluva way to go out." He had 20:25 of ice time, his most in nearly a month, recorded two assists, and was the best player on the ice in a big 3-2 win against the rival Edmonton Oilers.

The Canucks are off now until Tuesday, and it almost seems like a long shot that Miller will still be with the team by then. But he doesn't want to talk about that.

“I'm not getting into this. I'm planning on being a Canuck today, tomorrow. Whatever happens, happens. I'm focused on the next game.”

And the rest of the hockey world is focused on JT Miller and the Canucks.

Miller has 31 points in 35 games this season, having missed some time earlier in the year on a personal leave. He recorded his first 100-point season last year with a career-high 37 goals, 103 points and a plus/minus rating of +32.