Miller, defenseman Erik Brannstrom and blueline prospect Jackson Dorrington had been traded to New York. Going the opposite manner is proficient (although injury-prone) heart Filip Chytil, hulking defensive prospect Victor Mancini and a top-13-protected 2025 first-round decide that, if it doesn’t convey, will change into unprotected in 2026.
Vancouver Grade: C
The drama surrounding Miller has been mentioned advert nauseum. His feud with fellow Canucks star Elias Pettersson has clearly impacted the group each on and off the ice. Crew president Jim Rutherford successfully admitted defeat earlier this week when he instructed Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail that “it definitely seems like there’s not a great resolution that will preserve this group collectively.” Regardless of his expertise and manufacturing, transferring Miller could possibly be a traditional case of addition-by-subtraction.
Chytil will step proper into Miller’s top-six position. An excellent stickhandler, particularly when travelling by the impartial zone at tempo, the 25-year-old remains to be extra of a theoretical producer than a constant supply of offense. Solely as soon as, in 2023, has Chytil averaged greater than half some extent per recreation. For a participant who doesn’t present a lot of a defensive presence, that’s an issue. That stated, he has been considerably constrained in New York as a third-line heart with little to no power-play time. With added duty in Vancouver, he may thrive.
The first concern round buying Chytil is his historical past of concussions. He missed most of final season with a serious concussion, together with a scary episode at training when on the comeback path. Each time Chytil accelerates by the impartial zone, Rangers followers are equal components excited and frightened. At this level, each hit Chytil takes could possibly be his final.
Mancini is an intriguing prospect, the 22-year-old made his NHL debut on opening night time, showing in 15 video games for New York. At 6-foot-3, he’s a giant unit who likes to throw a giant hit infrequently, and he skates fairly properly. He had 5 factors in his 15 video games, however he probably doesn’t undertaking as a difference-maker offensively.
The decide Vancouver acquires is clearly a boon. The protections merely shield the Rangers in the event that they’re unable to rescue their season.
New York grade: B
On the ice, Miller is a transparent improve on Chytil, with 4 seasons at greater than some extent per recreation for Vancouver. He broke the 100-point threshold final season (at a +32 for good measure) after ending on 99 factors in 2022. He’s a three-time 30 aim scorer with a knack for burying game-winners, having scored a good 50 over his NHL profession. He’s additionally wonderful within the faceoff circle — an space the place Chytil struggles — giving New York a second faceoff ace alongside Vincent Trocheck. Miller has centered Rangers veteran Chris Kreider prior to now and the membership will likely be hoping that they will regenerate the chemistry they’d near a decade in the past.
An infamously prickly character, Miller’s presence within the dressing room may gentle a hearth underneath a bunch that hasn’t demonstrated a lot resilience this season. He may additionally rapidly alienate a notoriously fickle group.
Miller’s acquisition may additionally give the Rangers license to maneuver on from Mika Zibanejad, who has, to place it kindly, skilled an inconsistent marketing campaign.
Brannstrom is an impressive skater on the blueline. He can transfer the puck and quarterback an influence play. That stated, it by no means actually occurred for him in Ottawa, and he has already worn out his welcome in simply half a season in Vancouver. He doesn’t supply an entire lot defensively, outdoors of restoration pace. Given the Rangers have discovered latest success in restoring the fame of fringe defenders in Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen, maybe normal supervisor Chris Drury is glad to go to that properly yet one more time. His presence makes the underappreciated Zac Jones expendable.
Dorrington is an affordable prospect, however he doesn’t have that singular ability that he can dangle his hat on on the NHL stage. At this level, he initiatives as a jack-of-all-trades, third-pairing defenseman.
