The lengthy J.T. Miller trade saga has finally reached its conclusion.
The final piece of the trade that sent J.T. Miller from the Canucks to the Rangers was settled this week. The Rangers announced Tuesday they will send their 12th overall selection in the upcoming NHL Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins, opting not to defer the pick to the 2026 draft.
The complex transaction, which involved three teams, saw the Canucks trade Miller along with defensemen Jackson Dorrington and Erik Brannstrom to the Rangers. In return, Vancouver received Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and New York`s 2025 first-round pick, which was protected for selections 1-13.
Subsequently, the Rangers traded that first-round pick to the Penguins, along with Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, and Melvin Fernstrom. The Penguins sent defensemen Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O`Connor to New York in that separate deal.
Due to the top-13 protection, the pick would have been deferred to the 2026 draft since the Rangers` selection fell at 12th overall this year. However, the Rangers chose to surrender the 2025 pick now rather than hold onto it for 2026.
Miller, in his second tenure with the Rangers, showed improved performance following the significant trade from Vancouver. The 31-year-old forward recorded 13 goals and 22 assists, totaling 35 points in 32 games for New York.
Despite Miller`s contribution, the Rangers did not qualify for the playoffs, ending the season with a 39-36-7 record.
The Pittsburgh Penguins finished the season just below the Rangers in the standings, holding the second-worst record in the Metropolitan Division at 34-36-12.
Neville Woodall