Devils Trade Chatter: Considering a Canucks Blockbuster

By no means is this a case to argue that the New Jersey Devils should hit the panic button amid their first four-game losing streak of the season. Simply, the Vancouver Canucks have made two elite players available via trade. Perhaps, there’s a fit to upgrade the roster in a Devils trade.

For weeks now, there have been reports of a dispute between Canucks stars, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Both Pettersson and Miller tried to water down on the reports, but even the organization has come out publically to address the situation.

Simply put, general manager Patrik Allvin would like for the two to settle their differences.

Yet, the clock is ticking on a resolution. Sportsnet insider, Elliotte Friedman, revealed on Saturday Night Headlines this weekend that the Canucks are exploring the NHL trade market for their superstar forwards.

“In calling around, this is what I can tell. The Canucks are definitely, definitely looking at the market for both players, and you should be prepared for all outcomes,” Friedman explained. “There’s really three of them. Neither gets dealt, one of them gets dealt, or both get dealt. That’s on the table, and I don’t want to predict the likelihood of any particular scenario, but I think all three of those outcomes are possible.”

In New Jersey, the concern for the Devils has been their depth scoring. However, lately, even their top guys haven’t been able to put the puck in the back of the net. Again, this isn’t—by any means—a case to push the red button. Simply, a Devils trade for one of these two players would make New Jersey a better team.

READ MORE: Devils Trade Chatter; Tom Fitzgerald in San Jose, Concern Over Scoring

Taking a look at both players, only one really makes sense to trade for. Elias Pettersson makes far too much money to play for the Devils. And although his playing style might fit in New Jersey, it’s difficult to imagine adding another player who makes more money than the face of their franchise, Jack Hughes.

Further, Friedman is on the record stating Pettersson is perhaps fragile minded. He doesn’t take criticism all that well, and perhaps he is a bit too conscious of what’s said about him online.

The Devils should, and likely will, steer clear of Pettersson.

That leaves us with J.T. Miller.

Miller signed a seven-year, $56 million deal in September 2022 to remain with the Canucks long-term. His cap hit sits at $8 million, which would match Hughes’ for this season and the next five.

Miller owns a full no-move clause, however, Friedman revealed that the 31-year-old forward would likely consider a change. Further, he’s unlikely to waive for another Canadian-based team. Therefore, that eliminates five teams from the NHL trade market already.

Making the money work would take a bit of maneuvering.

According to Puckpedia, the Devils have 1,533,265 in cap space currently.

Editors Note: Utah HC claimed Nick DeSimone Sunday afternoon. The Devils now have $2,308,265 in cap space.

If Vancouver trades one or both of their stars, Friedman explained what they’re prioritizing in return.

“Other things I can tell just from making the calls, I think if the Canucks do make a trade, they’re going to need a center in return,” Friedman explained. “I know the Canucks fans right now are concerned about the defense with [Quinn] Hughes and [Filip] Hronek injured, but I believe the team has prioritized a center in a return more than the blueline. Obviously they’d be trading a center if one or both was to go, so as part of the package, and I would assume it would be a package back for either of those two players.”

The Canucks have $1,452,602 in cap space, there is room to make something work here.

Considering the Canucks seek a center in return, Dawson Mercer could certainly be a trade candidate to help offset the money with a $4 million cap hit. The Devils forward has spent the majority of the season on the wing, but he was drafted as a natural center and could still have a future at the position at the ripe age of 23 years old. Friedman did explain he believes it would take a package for the Canucks to move one or both of their players.

Seeing as the Devils’ blueline is quite full for the foreseeable future, perhaps prospect defenseman Seamus Casey is enough to sweeten the pot. And because the Devils would include a solid prospect such as Casey, the Canucks perhaps take on Tomas Tatar‘s $1.8 million cap hit for the rest of this season. He hasn’t quite worked out the way general manager Tom Fitzgerald had hoped.

Essentially, you’re looking at a deal that sends Mercer, Tatar, and Casey to the Canucks in exchange for Miller. Perhaps other variables are added on either side to make the dollars and cents work, but that sounds like a fair value deal.

A trade of this magnitude right now would leave the Devils -$1,262,022. Therefore, Fitzgerald would have to wait to get a little closer to the NHL Trade Deadline to accrue more cap space. Currently, the Devils are projected to have $5,660,745 by March 7th.

Therefore, they could make this deal and still have nearly $2.5 million to work with on deadline day.

If the Devils make this kind of blockbuster deal, is Miller a fit?

Miller is a left-hand shot. He’d fit in well on a line at left-wing with Hughes and Jesper Bratt.

Miller has registered three consecutive seasons of 30-plus goals, scoring 32 in each of the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons. In 2023–24, Miller scored 37 goals and 103 points.

The veteran forward also has 91 games of playoff experience. In 91 postseason games, Miller’s scored 12 goals and 56 points. More recently, he’s a point-per-game player in the playoffs with the Canucks, scoring 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 30 games.

It’s certainly an enticing thought to bring Miller to New Jersey. However, there is the future to consider. Miller has five years remaining on his contract, with an $8 million cap hit that runs through the 2029-2030 season.

Acquiring Miller would leave the Devils with $8,225,000 in cap space this summer with Luke Hughes and Johnathan Kovacevic on expiring contracts and due for respective raises.

That does leave them with little money to re-sign one or both defenseman, and it’s possible some expiring depth such as Nathan Bastian and Curtis Lazar walk in free agency. However, the summer is the time to make things happen, and perhaps Fitzgerald can be rid of the Kurtis MacDermid contract, which would help add some space.

If you have the opportunity to make your team better, typically you do it. However, if Fitzgerald does pull the trigger on a trade of this magnitude, he’d certainly have his work cut out for him in the upcoming summer.

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