Trade Grades: Rangers Acquire JT Miller

Trade Grades: Rangers Acquire JT Miller

We’re now a few days removed from the trade that sent JT Miller back to New York with the Rangers. Chris Bagdonas and I sat down and chatted about the deal so the video you see below will be included in this trade grades post and the fantasy hockey follow up that will come after this. Enjoy the extra content. If you don’t care to watch it, feel free to comment on how you feel about the trade!

Rangers: Grade A

You have to give Chris Drury credit. He dug himself a serious grave after the Jacob Trouba stuff but his master plan worked. There is no question the Rangers are better with JT Miller inserted into that salary slot. He’s also apparently best friends with Vincent Trocheck so that helps in terms of keeping the crazy off the ice with Miller.

Miller, 31, is a true game changing center who plays with an edge. The kind of edge who might even wake up sleepy Mika Zibanejad. That alone could be worth the price of acquisition.

We’re talking about a guy who had over 100 points last year. What did they really give up here? A protected first round pick and Filip Chytil? That’s not a big asking price for the kind of player Miller is.

Yes, he’s signed for a long time but the $8 million AAV won’t be a problem with the way the cap is spiking. They added Miller without really taking away from their team. Not to mention the fact that they can still very much add. They got draft assets for Trouba and from Seattle in the deal for Kaapo Kakko. Still plenty left in the chamber to add more.

As far as I’m concerned, the Rangers are back in it. With Miller now added, this is not a team you want to see in the postseason. What if Igor Shesterkin goes god mode? Drury likely saved his job with this trade. Otherwise, it would have been hard to feel confident about their playoff chances.

Canucks: Grade F

I hate this deal for the Canucks and a lot of it stems from poor leadership. How hard would it have been to downplay these rumors? Instead, the front office couldn’t keep their mouth shut and got less of a return because of it.

Chytil, 25, is a nice player but has suffered serious concussions recently. He might be one hit away from being done. The former Rangers first rounder in 2017 played ten games last year. This is a serious risk to take if this is the main asset you’re getting back.

Mancini is a former 5th round pick in 2022 by the Rangers who really hasn’t consistently cracked their lineup. Maybe he can be a third pair guy for Vancouver. Still, the fact that the Canucks didn’t get K’Andre Miller or Braden Schneider back is pretty criminal.

Also, the first round pick they got back was already shipped off to Pittsburgh for Marcus Pettersson, who needs a contract for next season. How you turn JT Miller into a bunch of spare parts is pretty laughable to me but that’s the Canucks and I’m not sure you can expect much more considering their person who is running the ship can barely speak literate sentences.

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Check out Vendetta Fantasy Contests

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Click here for more NHL content