Canucks’ J.T. Miller will remain No. 1 on Trade Targets board until he’s traded

Jan 25, 2025

Credit: Jan 21, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) during a stop in play against the Buffalo Sabres in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Tick tock. We’re exactly six weeks away from the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline. It’s also been six weeks since our last trade of significance with Mackenzie Blackwood moving to the Colorado Avalanche – so it’s time for a fresh Trade Targets board.

Heck, it’s already been a busy season on that front with four players traded off our board already this year – David Jiricek, Jacob Trouba, Cam Fowler and Alexandre Carrier – with another in Taylor Hall during Friday night’s blockbuster.

Don’t worry. We’ve got seven new players to chew on.

2025 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 6 Weeks

Here are 30 names in play on the Trade Targets board, which always seeks to blend a player’s prominence with his likelihood of a trade:

Trade Targets 🎯

1. J.T. Miller
Center, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 31
Stats: 37 GP, 8 G, 25 A, 33 Pts
Contract: 5 years remaining, $8 million AAV
Scoop: Will he? Won’t he? Here’s the deal: the Canucks seems to have reached a point where they are ready to move on from Miller. Likewise, Miller seems to have reached a point where he is ready to move on from the Canucks. The hold up is that the Canucks are trying to extract the most value possible for a very distressed asset. That’s why the Hurricanes, Bruins, Devils, and to a lesser-extent – the Stars – have jumped in to check on prices. They’re all involved in varying degrees of sincerity. Miller will remain No. 1 until he is moved.

2. Brock Nelson
Center, New York Islanders
Age: 33
Stats: 46 GP, 13 G, 15 A, 28 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6 million AAV
Scoop: It feels like time, doesn’t it? Nelson is a lifelong Islander, part of the fold since he was picked in the first round the year following John Tavares. But he’s a pending UFA and the Islanders don’t appear to be going anywhere fast. There is solid interest, most notably from his home state of Minnesota, whose GM Bill Guerin selected Nelson for Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off entry. Nelson is the most impactful center available after Miller, even if Nelson’s on track for his fewest goals and points in a non-shortened season since 2017-18. (For more on Nelson, read his Trade Deadline Player Profile.)

3. Yanni Gourde
Center, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Stats: 35 GP, 6 G, 10 A, 16 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5,166,667 AAV
Scoop: Having three centers atop the Trade Targets board highlights the true scarcity of the position. Similar to Nelson, Gourde is hitting free agency as a 33-year-old with numbers on a steep decline this season. He has struggled to produce and his ice time in Seattle has taken a hit as a result, down almost two full minutes per game. What’s most surprising is he’s struggled to get puck on net with just 38 shots in 35 games played. He’s banged up now but teams see the two-time Stanley Cup winner as an ideal 3C candidate. (For more on Gourde, read his Trade Deadline Player Profile.)

~~4. Taylor Hall~~ – TRADED TO COLORADO Jan. 24
Left Wing, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 33
Stats: 46 GP, 9 G, 15 A, 24 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6 million AAV
Scoop: This year has been a grind for Hall as much as it’s been the Blackhawks. His production numbers aren’t bad, but there was a glaring healthy scratch from previous coach Luke Richardson that grabbed everyone’s attention. The vast majority of Hall’s production has been at even-strength (21 of 24 points) and he’s capable of playing all over the lineup. Hall said he wanted to stay in Chicago, but that doesn’t seem likely at this point. The Hawks retaining half on Hall will make him an intriguing target.

5. Marcus Pettersson
Left Defense, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 28
Stats: 44 GP, 2 G, 15 A, 17 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $4,025,175 AAV
Scoop: If you can truly stick a fork in the Penguins‘ season – and there is little convincing evidence otherwise – Pettersson is instantly Pittsburgh’s most valuable trade chip. He has his limitations moving the puck, for sure, but he has a reasonable cap hit that GM Kyle Dubas could use his last retained salary transaction slot on to juice a return. Point blank: Pettersson is Pittsburgh’s only pending free agent that moves the needle on the market.

6. Ryan Lindgren
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 26
Stats: 43 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 12 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $4.5 million AAV
Scoop: Feels like the writing was on the wall for Lindgren when he hit RFA status last summer after a few solid seasons and the Rangers decided to not commit long-term. The one-year deal walks him to free agency. Lindgren has been one of the frequent victims for New York’s issues in their own end this year, which opens the door for him to move on. To me, Lindgren certainly seems like the kind of heart-and-soul competitor that helps teams win in May and June.

7. Dylan Cozens
Center, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 48 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 23 P
Contract: 5 years remaining, $7.1 million AAV
Scoop: No player player in Buffalo has received more trade attention this season than Cozens – and given the state of the Sabres, the organization hasn’t been in a position to do anything but consider everything. The Workhorse from Whitehorse has experienced a steady drop in production year-over-year from that 31-goal, 68-point season that earned him this $49.7 million contract and seemed to put him on the precipice of stardom. Now what?

8. Joel Farabee
Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 24
Stats: 46 GP, 7 G, 11 A, 18 Pts
Contract: 3 years remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Few players on the Trade Targets board need a change of scenery more than Farabee. On an 82-game pace of just 13 goals and 33 points, this is the worst season of Farabee’s six-year NHL career and John Tortorella doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Yet just last year, Farabee put up 22 goals and 50 points – leaving many to wonder whether he’s still just scratching the surface.

9. Bowen Byram
Left Defense, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 48 GP, 5 G, 18 A, 23 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.85 million AAV
Scoop: It’s been a bit of an odd tenure for Byram in Buffalo. He arrived at last year’s deadline in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt and seemed genuinely excited to be part of the solution. Byram has played well. And yet, he has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1 and is still on track to be a restricted free agent. There’s been no shortage of teams calling as a result.

10. Kyle Palmieri
Right Wing, New York Islanders
Age: 33
Stats: 46 GP, 12 G, 17 A, 29 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Yes, the Islanders operate under the category of “Only God and Lou Know” – so you never truly have line of sight on the GM’s decision-making process. But Palmieri is in a very similar position to teammate Nelson, and equally productive, but plays a position teeming with other candidates. Both players have limited no-trade clauses that could help/hinder discussions.

11. Ivan Provorov
Defense, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 28
Stats: 49 GP, 3 G, 17 A, 20 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $6.75 million AAV
Scoop: It’s far from a slam dunk that Provorov is on the move. For one, the Blue Jackets have surprised everyone and are squarely in the mix for a playoff spot. Two, he’s expressed an interest in staying, as his younger brother has committed to Ohio State. That said, Provorov may be in demand as a defenseman who has mobility and commitment to defend, so if Columbus falls out of the race they could trade him and re-sign him in the summer.

12. Brandon Tanev
Left Wing, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Stats: 47 GP, 8 G, 7 A, 15 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Speed kills and even at 33, Tanev still has it. He’s a fierce forechecker with speed and competitive juice that teams crave. That makes him an ideal trade deadline target once the Kraken begin to make decisions, but nothing is imminent quite yet.

13. Rasmus Ristolainen
Right Defense, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 30
Stats: 49 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 13 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5.1 million AAV
Scoop: The defense market has thinned already this season with the Cam Fowler trade and a few extensions. Ristolainen’s name has circulated through the rumor mill and the Flyers are hoping he will generate enough buzz between now and March to net a solid return. Teams are still drawn to his size, though his ability to defend is still a question mark and his point production has slid. Staying healthy and on the ice will help everyone’s cause.

14. Jack Quinn
Right Wing, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 23
Stats: 41 GP, 9 G, 9 A, 18 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $863,334 AAV
Scoop: At the start of this season, we picked Quinn as one of our breakout stars. We were wrong. It’s been a really tough year for Quinn, who sat for a stretch of time as a healthy scratch. It still feels like there is something there. He’s still on his entry-level contract, still two seasons removed from a 14-goal, 37-point year. It doesn’t make much sense for the Sabres to sell low on Quinn, but that’s why teams have been calling.

15. Ryan Donato
Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 28
Stats: 45 GP, 14 G, 13 A, 27 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2 million AAV
Scoop: Of all the Blackhawks veterans, it’s Donato and Jason Dickinson that have lived up to their billing this season. Donato has been a model of consistency in Chicago. He’s been impactful and competitive and someone both coaching staffs in Chicago have relied upon in the midst of a career year. Donato is also relatively inexpensive and could be a quality under-the-radar addition.

16. Trent Frederic
Center, Boston Bruins
Age: 26
Stats: 48 GP, 7 G, 7 A, 14 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.3 million AAV
Scoop: Frederic is a guy who has drawn lots of interest from around the league. He’s a pain in the ass to play against. He competes. And he scores – 18 goals last season, 17 the year prior. Frederic is the perfect bottom-six forward and the Bruins have proven they can mine those guys better than any other team.

17. Jake Evans
Center, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Stats: 48 GP, 11 G, 14 A, 25 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $1.7 million AAV
Scoop: Year after year, it feels like Evans has to prove himself, and he’s saved his best season for a contract year. We’re not sold the Canadiens are going to pay a premium to keep him, but his production has been noteworthy. He’s played his most confident hockey over the last few weeks as the Canadiens have come to life again. If they’re in the playoff chase, they’re likely keeping him.

18. Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Center, New York Islanders
Age: 32
Stats: 43 GP, 9 G, 13 A, 22 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining, $5 million AAV
Scoop: Over the past six months, Pageau has gone from salary cap casualty candidate to legitimately in-demand as the center market is so thin. Unlike a rental, he has one year left at a manageable $5 million. And with the salary cap increasing (potentially by a sizable amount), if you could trade the same assets and also get to use him for one extra year, wouldn’t he be a smart add?

19. Justin Brazeau
Right Wing, Boston Bruins
Age: 26
Stats: 47 GP, 10 G, 10 A, 20 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $775,000 AAV
Scoop: It’s been a wild season for Brazeau, who won himself a roster spot during last year’s playoffs. He’s already collected 10 goals this season – and he’s still playing on a two-way contract, making the league minimum this season. The Bruins are up and down, and they likely won’t be paying him, so he’s a solid bet to move. No matter what, he has playoff experience, and his next contract this summer will be life-changing either way.

20. Brian Dumoulin
Left Defense, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 33
Stats: 48 GP, 0 G, 11 A, 11 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.15 million AAV
Scoop: There would undoubtedly be a handful of teams interested in Dumoulin’s services as a steady defender and solid contributor to two Stanley Cup squads in Pittsburgh. He’s got this ability to get the puck out, flipping it out, that is tried and true. He’s moving pretty well for 33 and has taken on a role mentoring the Ducks’ young guys. Anaheim sent a 4th to Seattle on July 2 for him; no reason to think they can’t do better this time around.

21. David Savard
Right Defense, Montréal Canadiens
Age: 34
Stats: 42 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.5 million AAV
Scoop: Savard’s best days are behind him. Period. Full stop. Whenever pressed into overuse this season, and his minutes have ratcheted up, his warts have become more transparent. That said, he would fit for one of the handful of teams looking to improve on a replacement level player on their third pair. He has experience. He will compete. But you’re going to have to offer something relatively decent (third-round pick?) because Montréal will just keep him through his contract rather than inserting a young player into their lineup who isn’t ready.

22. Cody Ceci
Right Defense, San Jose Sharks
Age: 31
Stats: 51 GP, 3 G, 11 A, 14 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $3.25 million AAV
Scoop: You’d have to think this was part of the plan when Sharks GM Mike Grier decided to take on Ceci last summer to help the Edmonton Oilers out of cap jail – that he’d be able to flip Ceci at this deadline. The catch is that San Jose has used all of their retained salary transaction slots already, so they can’t retain. They could get a third-party broker involved to chop Ceci in half. Or that team would have to take him at full boat. The good news is Ceci is a totally serviceable third pair guy at this point, which is in-demand on a handful of Cup contenders.

23. Zac Jones
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 24
Stats: 26 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $812,500 AAV
Scoop: Jones has sat since December as a healthy scratch and the Rangers have given him permission to speak with other teams to seek a trade. His frustration was apparent in his comments last week, a well-liked competitor who is looking for opportunity. Jones can move well and has offensive instincts, but his undersized frame has created some limitation in the market.

24. Morgan Frost
Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 25
Stats: 45 GP, 11 G, 14 A, 25 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $2.1 million AAV
Scoop: Frost has a few things going for him on the trade market. He’s a center. And he has shown that he still has the potential to be a higher-end point producer. Two seasons ago, Frost netted 19 goals and 46 points as a 23-year-old. Last year, he was a frequent target of healthy scratches, and he still collected 41 points. John Tortorella said recently he “can’t coach him that way anymore,” as it wouldn’t be fair to Frost. So what is fair? Then again, GM Danny Briere said this week they’re trying to acquire more centers, not trade them.

25. Nick Robertson
Right Wing, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 23
Stats: 41 GP, 8 G, 4 A, 12 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $875,000 AAV
Scoop: Robertson is no stranger to the trade board, having requested a trade over the summer that went unfulfilled by the Leafs. He hasn’t followed up with a season that would give the Leafs pause in moving him. Robertson has been healthy scratched by coach Craig Berube on occasion as his NHL-caliber shot alone isn’t enough to keep him in the lineup. He’d be a solid piece that the Leafs could use in a deal to both create roster and a little salary cap flexibility in a larger deal.

26. Dan Vladar
Goaltender, Calgary Flames
Age: 27
Stats: 21 GP, 3.03 GAA, .889 SV%, 2 SO
Contract: Pending UFA, $2.2 million AAV
Scoop: There isn’t a big goalie market this season mostly because so few teams (outside of Carolina) seem to be interested in a netminder. Colorado already did their shopping, and Carolina has checked in to understand the price. But the Flames are looking to get back at the very least what they spent to get Vladar from Boston, which was a third-round pick. Vladar has taken on the tougher workload this season in Calgary, but Devin Cooley is waiting patiently with the Wranglers as the owner of truly eye-popping AHL numbers.

27. Josh Anderson
Wing, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 30
Stats: 48 GP, 8 G, 10 A, 18 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining, $5.5 million AAV
Scoop: Eighteen months ago, the Canadiens’ phones were ringing off the hook with teams willing to give up a haul for Anderson. In retrospect, it seems like the Habs probably should’ve taken them up on it. But there is still interest in Anderson, his massive frame is appealing to so many front offices. He could be an absolute menace in a playoff series. But the Canadiens have to get there first.

28. Andrei Kuzmenko
Left Wing, Calgary Flames
Age: 28
Stats: 34 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $5.5 million AAV
Scoop: What happened to Kuzmenko? His game has fallen off a cliff from bursting on the scene with a 39-goal, 74-point campaign as a rookie with the Canucks in 2022-23. He has 57 points total in the two seasons since and has been a regular healthy scratch in Calgary this year. It will be difficult for the Flames to mine value but he could be a solid buy-low candidate, even for a non-playoff team looking to learn more about him.

29. K’Andre Miller
Left Defense, New York Rangers
Age: 25
Stats: 42 GP, 3 G, 8 A, 11 Pts
Contract: Pending RFA, $3.872 million AAV
Scoop: With the entire defense corps in-flux outside of Adam Fox and Braden Schneider, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Miller is moved before March 7. Given his rare combination of size and athleticism, lots of teams would love to get their hands on the insanely gifted Miller. The flashes of brilliance are there but he just hasn’t been able to put it all together on a consistent enough basis. So much of what GM Chris Drury is willing to consider will hinge on how the Rangers perform over the next few weeks.

30. Elias Pettersson
Center, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 26
Stats: 41 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 Pts
Contract: 7 years remaining, $11.6 million AAV
Scoop: Pettersson seemingly should be marked ‘safe’ from a trade after the developments with Miller over the weekend. However, the longer the Miller saga drags on – and the more depressed the return is for the Canucks – they may be forced to pivot here and entertain conversations on ‘Petey’ again, which were not surprisingly much more robust. Stay tuned. It’s not impossible, not until Pettersson’s full ‘no-trade’ clause kicks in on July 1.

Traded: No. 1 David Jiricek; No. 6 Jacob Trouba; No. 15 Cam Fowler; No. 18 Alexandre Carrier.
Re-Signed: No. 5 Frank Vatrano.

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2025 NHL Trade Deadline Countdown: 6 Weeks

Trade Targets 🎯

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