Miller, defenseman Erik Brannstrom and blueline prospect Jackson Dorrington had 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 decide that, if it doesn’t convey, will grow to be 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. Group 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 an excellent resolution that will preserve this group collectively.” Regardless of his expertise and manufacturing, transferring Miller may very well be a traditional case of addition-by-subtraction.
Chytil will step proper into Miller’s top-six position. A superb 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 sport. 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 might 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 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 evening, showing in 15 video games for New York. At 6-foot-3, he’s an enormous unit who likes to throw an enormous hit once in a while, and he skates fairly nicely. He had 5 factors in his 15 video games, however he seemingly 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 sport 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 an excellent 50 over his NHL profession. He’s additionally glorious 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 shall be hoping that they’ll regenerate the chemistry that they had near a decade in the past.
An infamously prickly character, Miller’s presence within the dressing room might mild a hearth beneath a gaggle that hasn’t demonstrated a lot resilience this season. He might additionally rapidly alienate a notoriously fickle group.
Miller’s acquisition might 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 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 a complete lot defensively, outdoors of restoration velocity. Given the Rangers have discovered current success in restoring the repute of fringe defenders in Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen, maybe basic supervisor Chris Drury is completely happy to go to that nicely yet one more time. His presence makes the underappreciated Zac Jones expendable.
Dorrington is an affordable prospect, however he doesn’t have that singular talent that he can dangle his hat on on the NHL stage. At this level, he tasks as a jack-of-all-trades, third-pairing defenseman.
