According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, “…keep an eye on New Jersey for either player.” The players he’s referring to are Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller of the Vancouver Canucks, as rumors continue to swirl around both forwards. Kypreos says of the Devils, “They have assets and player pieces the Canucks could find attractive, and at the moment are on track to have about $7.469 million in deadline day salary cap space, according to PuckPedia.”
The fit might be a bit surprising at first, given the depth at forward the Devils already have. Their roster boasts a load of versatile centers and wingers that can be moved around. They rank ninth in the NHL for goals scored, and one could argue they don’t necessarily need another high-paid center. But, it’s that versatility that makes them a potential fit.
Their top guys are all locked into reasonable deals and the Miller and Pettersson cap hits, while high, also bring cost certainty as the cap is rising. (Pettersson’s deal might be a bit too rich).
It’s not clear the Canucks are going to trade either or both players. Talk is everywhere, but Miller has a full no-move clause, and while he’s the name most insiders seem to think is more likely to be dealt, he has the most leverage to control his fate.
Why the Devils for Miller or Pettersson?
Beyond the cap space flexibility, the Devils have three second-round picks in 2025, their first in 2026 and 2027, and a solid group of prospects in Anton Silayev, Seamus Casey, Arseny Gritsyuk, Lenni Hämeenaho, and Mikhail Yegorov. There are some solid blue-line prospects here, which the Canucks need, but also that the Devils can potentially spare a prospect with players like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec in the system.
If the Canucks want a center back, the Devils have Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer, and Nico Hischier up the middle as options to either move or fit with Miller. Hughes is out of the question, and Hischier likely is too. Mercer might be an interesting option.
And, why wouldn’t either player want to go to the Devils? They’re a good team with a solid chance of contending this season.
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