Miller traded to Rangers by Canucks for Chytil, Mancini, draft pick

J.T. Miller was traded to the New York Rangers by the Vancouver Canucks on Friday for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The 2025 draft pick is top-13 protected and will transfer to 2026 if it falls in the top 13. New York also received Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington.

Miller, a 31-year-old forward, has 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in 40 games this season, the third of a seven-year, $56 million contract ($8 million average annual value) he signed with the Canucks on Sept. 2, 2022.

He will be in the lineup when the Rangers play at the Boston Bruins on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS).

"He is certainly one of the premier impact forwards in the NHL," Rangers general manager Chris Drury said Saturday. "He brings a unique combination of skill, size and physicality to our team. Not just helps us here in the short term, but will be a key part of our core moving forward.

"I think he's going to have a terrific impact not only on the ice but in our room. ... As you all know, he's a terrific 200-foot player, plays both sides of the puck, both special teams, physical element. High level of compete that we are excited to bring to our group."

The deal comes three days after Vancouver president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford acknowledged that the strained relationship between Miller and Elias Pettersson had negatively impacted the Canucks and that a trade could be the only solution.

“I felt like for a long time that there was a solution here because everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved,” said Rutherford. “But it only gets resolved for a short period of time and then it festers again, and so it certainly appears like there’s not a good solution that would keep this group together.”

After the Canucks' 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday, Pettersson said he didn't want to get into whether trading Miller would allow him to grow into the player he wants to be.

"All we can do is look forward. I don't even know what to say," he said. "All we can do is look forward."

Sportsnet had previously reported on Jan. 18 that a trade to the Rangers was imminent and that the Canucks considered pulling Miller from the lineup that night against the Edmonton Oilers. Miller played 20:25 and had two assists in a 3-2 win at Rogers Arena.

On Friday, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes admitted the last few weeks had been a lot to navigate.

"A lot of noise the last couple weeks and months, but to see him go, he's a heck of a hockey player and I enjoyed playing with him for the six years that I had," Hughes said. "Obviously, we wish him the best.

"I think it's just been a lot of noise. For [Miller], too, it's been a lot on him. I think he's looking forward to a fresh start. We're obviously going to miss him here, he had a lot of compete and played some really good hockey for us, but in saying that, we've got to refocus on the guys we do have here."

Earlier this season, Miller took a personal leave of absence on Nov. 19, missing 10 games before returning on Dec. 12. He led the Canucks and was ninth in the NHL last season with an NHL career-high 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists). He also had career highs in goals, plus-minus (plus-32), power-play points (40) and game-winning goals (nine).

Miller had 437 points (152 goals, 285 assists) in 404 regular-season games over six seasons with Vancouver, ranking 11th in the NHL in scoring during that span.

"It's a business the way it is. When you're in this business long enough, there's going to be things like that," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. "I thought the guys handled it well. [Miller] was a big part of the team. I'm sure he's emotional, it's an emotional thing, but it's a business right? Things happen.

"[Miller] has played great hockey for the Canucks and myself. (He's a) heart and soul guy. I think he's going to do well over there."

Selected by the Rangers in the first round (No. 15) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Miller has 674 points (247 goals, 427 assists) in 839 regular-season games for Vancouver, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Rangers and 56 points (12 goals, 44 assists) in 91 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

“He’s a power forward that can play the game hard, score goals, he can make plays, he’s got an edge to his game and can play different positions," New York coach Peter Laviolette said Saturday. "It’s a big piece.

“I think he fits right into what we’re doing, so from that standpoint he should be fine ... he’s a smart player and he'll be able to adjust.”

The Canucks (23-18-10) are fifth in the Pacific Division after winning it last season and advancing to the Western Conference Second Round, which they lost in seven games to the Oilers.

Chytil, selected by the Rangers in the first round (No. 21) of the 2017 NHL Draft, has 164 points (75 goals, 89 assists) in 378 games, including 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 41 games this season.

The 25-year-old missed all but 10 games last season due to an upper-body injury. He has not played more than 75 games in a season in his seven full seasons with New York. He is in the second season of a four-year contract he signed with the Rangers on March 29, 2023.

Mancini made his NHL debut for the Rangers this season, getting five points (one goal, four assists). Selected by New York in the fifth round (No. 159) of the 2022 NHL Draft, the 22-year-old defenseman signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on April 2, 2024.

“On behalf of the entire Canucks organization I want to thank J.T. for his time here in Vancouver,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “J.T. was a passionate impact player and good leader for our hockey team. Moving him was not an easy decision but we are pleased with our return from the Rangers. Both Filip and Victor are good additions for our club and we are excited to see what they bring to us on the ice.”

Brannstrom, 25, has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 28 games this season, his first with the Canucks after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 6.

Selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round (No. 15) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Brannstrom has 77 points (10 goals, 67 assists) in 294 games for the Ottawa Senators and Canucks.

"Former first-round pick, almost 300 games played in the League, just gives us a good depth option," Drury said. "... This just gives us another piece down there (in Hartford of the American Hockey League) to work with and move forward with."

Dorrington has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 23 games as a junior at Northeastern University this season. The 20-year-old defenseman was selected by Vancouver in the sixth round (No. 176) of the 2022 NHL Draft.

NHL.com independent correspondents Kevin Woodley, Taylor Baird and Joe McDonald contributed to this report