NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On J.T. Miller, Dylan Cozens And Brock Nelson

J.T. Miller

James Guillory-Imagn Images

The ongoing speculation over the futures of Vancouver Canucks centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller is reportedly affecting the NHL trade market.

TSN’s Chris Johnston reported Tuesday the Canucks are continuing to work out their options. Meanwhile, he cited sources saying there’s a belief around the NHL that they’re leaning toward moving Miller.

Miller has played less than 15 minutes in each of his last three games, and Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said the center is struggling, suggesting his focus level must improve.

Johnston pointed out Miller has a no-movement clause. While the possibility of a trade isn’t his idea, it’s assumed he could waive that clause for the right situation.

Some have suggested the New York Rangers as a suitable destination for Miller, who began his NHL career in the Big Apple. A recent report claimed the Rangers offered up Mika Zibanejad, but there’s no confirmation whether that proposal reached the stage where Zibanejad would waive his no-move clause.

Pettersson lacks no-trade protection this season, but his $11.6-million annual average value for the next seven years, in some ways, makes him harder to move than Miller with his $8-million cap hit. Still, Pettersson’s name has previously surfaced in recent media trade chatter.

For now, the intrigue continues with no immediate end in sight.

Turning to the Buffalo Sabres, Dylan Cozens remains a fixture in the rumor mill as his club struggles to climb out of the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun indicated the Calgary Flames are among “a long list of teams” interested in the 23-year-old Sabres center. He noted that the Flames have been scouring the market for some time in search of a right-shot center who is 25 or younger.

Recent reports out of Buffalo claim the Sabres aren’t shopping Cozens. However, it’s worth remembering Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said the same thing last February about Casey Mittelstadt, calling those rumors “flat-out not true.” Mittelstadt was subsequently traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Bowen Byram.

Cozens’ situation, however, is different. Mittlestadt was an RFA with arbitration rights and a year away from UFA eligibility. Cozens is signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $7.1 million.

The Sabres have more invested in Cozens than they did in Mittelstadt. They might not want to risk watching him become a star with another club like former Sabres Ryan O’Reilly, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.

Meanwhile, Johnston’s colleague Pierre LeBrun reported in his column for The Athletic that the Dallas Stars are interested in Brock Nelson. However, it’s uncertain whether the New York Islanders will part with the 33-year-old center, who is UFA-eligible on July 1.

Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin included the Stars among his list of potential trade destinations for Nelson. He thinks the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets could also get into the bidding for the Isles center.