Among the teams interested in forward J.T. Miller out of Vancouver are the Boston Bruins. NHL insider and Daily Faceoff columnist Frank Seravalli appeared on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver on Monday and said that the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild are interested and Boston is one of a couple of teams (the Rangers the other) that have seriously considered putting a solid package together.
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The ask is high from a Vancouver perspective; potentially more than a (first-round pick) and a highly-touted prospect. If the Bruins are going to seriously get involved in trade discussions, they’ll have to beat out the Rangers who, at this point, are considered the favorite.
Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston took a closer look at different options the Bruins might consider and he had Miller at the top of his list. He wrote:
Miller would be a great fit as the No. 2 center for the B’s. Erik Haula has done a solid job in that role this month on a new-look second line with Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak on his wings. But it’s unlikely the Bruins will win the Stanley Cup if Haula is the second-line center. He’s more suited as a third-liner.
Goss notes that Miller is one of the top forwards available this year prior to the deadline. He’s having a great season and could potentially hit the 30-goal and 80-point markers if things continue at his current pace. That would be a first for Miller who has been consistent, but his career-best is a 27-goal campaign. Goss also points out that Miller is more than just skilled, “he plays a hard, physical style at 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds.”
What Would the Bruins Be Willing to Give?
The thing about Miller is that he’s not a rental. As such, he’s valuable and the Bruins might be willing to give up more to get a player who is locked in at a salary of $5.25 million for the remainder of this season and next. Goss wonders if the Bruins would part with goaltender Jeremy Swayman or prospect Mason Lohrei as part of a deal? There aren’t a lot of players out there the Bruins would be willing to move Swayman for. Would Miller be among them?
The thinking with Miller is that he’s part of the Bruins shorter-term window to win with the core of stars they have, including Patrice Bergeron. What is it worth to stack the deck and go all in over the next two seasons? Miller certainly fits into that frame of thinking.
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