If you're an active reader here at BlueLineStation, you'll know how closely we've been following the J.T. Miller rumors. If Miller's had any link anywhere, you've seen it here, and the Rangers remain in active talks to try and land the former Blueshirt. However, at the eleventh hour, a new team has emerged from the word of work trying to get a deal over the line for J.T. Miller, and that is the Carolina Hurricanes because they're always in on everyone.
However, this doesn't sit right. Carolina is a defensively structured team reliant on its forecheck and man-to-man coverage, making them both a unique system and a difficult opponent. Miller is one of the worst players in the league defensively, and he'd be nothing but fresh meat for Rod Brind'amour to chew into, so there's something wrong about the efforts of the Hurricanes' general manager Eric Tulsky trying to land this player.
Carolina needs a 2C, that's true, but Miller seems a poor fit. So if the Rangers and Canes are going toe-to-toe for Miller, is Carolina just hiking the price up for the Rangers? Then, I had a moment. A three-way trade benefits everyone. Vancouver adores Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Carolina has been looking to replace Vincent Trocheck for years, and the Rangers need J.T. Miller. New York won't part with Trocheck, but Filip Chytil makes sense.
Something this could look like is the Rangers lose Chytil, Adam Sykora, and a pick, the Canes lose Jesperi Kotkaniemi, a prospect, and a high pick and the Canucks give up Miller. In return, all the prospects and picks, in addition to Kotkaniemi, go to Vancouver, the Rangers land Miller, and Carolina gets Chyil. This may not work for cap reasons, but I know Carolina's relatively close to the upper threshold. The idea makes so much sense.
New York won't want to bolster a division rival like Carolina by gifting them Filip Chytil or anyone, but if its to get J.T. Miller, who would almost instantly improve the offensive output of the roster, is it worth it? It's a difficult question to answer. Some may believe Miller is that solution, and if the Rangers can nab him without losing Braden Schneider or Alexis Lafreniere, then it's going to be a good deal for the Blueshirts.