Miller, defenseman Erik Brannstrom and blueline prospect Jackson Dorrington have been traded to New York. Going the opposite manner is gifted (although injury-prone) middle Filip Chytil, hulking defensive prospect Victor Mancini and a top-13-protected 2025 first-round choose that, if it doesn’t convey, will turn 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 workforce each on and off the ice. Crew president Jim Rutherford successfully admitted defeat earlier this week when he advised Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail that “it actually seems like there’s not a great resolution that might maintain this group collectively.” Regardless of his expertise and manufacturing, shifting Miller may very well be a traditional case of addition-by-subtraction.
Chytil will step proper into Miller’s top-six function. A superb stickhandler, particularly when travelling by way of 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 a degree per recreation. For a participant who doesn’t present a lot of a defensive presence, that’s an issue. That mentioned, he has been considerably constrained in New York as a third-line middle 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 significant concussion, together with a scary episode at training when on the comeback path. Each time Chytil accelerates by way of the impartial zone, Rangers followers are equal elements excited and frightened. At this level, each hit Chytil takes may very well 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 every now and then, and he skates moderately effectively. He had 5 factors in his 15 video games, however he doubtless doesn’t venture as a difference-maker offensively.
The choose Vancouver acquires is clearly a boon. The protections merely defend 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 a degree 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 objective scorer with a knack for burying game-winners, having scored a fair 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 previously and the membership might be hoping that they will regenerate the chemistry they’d near a decade in the past.
An infamously prickly persona, Miller’s presence within the dressing room may mild a hearth underneath a gaggle 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 excellent skater on the blueline. He can transfer the puck and quarterback an influence play. That mentioned, 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, exterior of restoration velocity. Given the Rangers have discovered current success in restoring the fame of fringe defenders in Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen, maybe common supervisor Chris Drury is completely satisfied to go to that effectively yet another time. His presence makes the underappreciated Zac Jones expendable.
Dorrington is an inexpensive prospect, however he doesn’t have that singular ability that he can hold his hat on on the NHL stage. At this level, he tasks as a jack-of-all-trades, third-pairing defenseman.
