What’s the latest on Canucks centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller? Could Mikko Rantanen sign with the Oilers this summer? What’s next for the Avalanche and Hurricanes? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON PETTERSSON AND MILLER
TSN: Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford told The Globe & Mail’s Gary Mason that he can see no good solution to the rift between centers Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
Rutherford indicated he felt there could be a long-term solution because everyone was working on it, including the two players. However, it would only be resolved for a short period before resurfacing. He said it “certainly appears that there’s not a good solution that would keep this group together.”
Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson and Miller denied a rift existed between them last month. Rutherford’s remarks leave no doubt there is an insurmountable issue between the two players adversely affecting the team.
The Canucks are exploring trade options involving Pettersson and Miller. Rutherford admitted the long-term outlook for the club will be affected. “We’ll have to do the best we can in trades,” he said. “Whatever assets you get in return, you may turn them into something else.”
Darren Dreger reports the Canucks aren’t interested in low-ball offers for either player. “It has to be respectable”, he said, pointing out that Pettersson and Miller are the Canucks’ top two forwards.
Miller carries a no-movement clause. Dreger said they’re willing to wait until the offseason if they don’t get suitable offers for him before the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Other clubs realize the Canucks are in a bind as the rift between those two affects the team’s performance so they’ll try to exploit that. Miller’s NMC complicates things as it limits potential trade destinations.
The Canucks will remain patient, hoping a rival club gets desperate enough to meet their asking price near the trade deadline. Otherwise, this situation could stretch into the offseason.
COULD RANTANEN SIGN WITH THE OILERS THIS SUMMER?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited NHL insider Andy Strickland predicting Mikko Rantanen will sign with the Oilers as a free agent this summer.
Rantanen, 28, was traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes last Friday. He’s in the final season of a six-year contract with an AAV of $9.25 million.
Strickland dismissed the salary cap difficulties the Oilers would face in signing Rantanen. He claimed there’s some belief that they could do it, and he pointed out that Rantanen and Oilers star Leon Draisaitl have the same agent. He also claimed his prediction was based on “informed speculation.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Strickland can dismiss the salary-cap concerns, but they’re too significant to ignore. If the ceiling reaches $92.4 million, as projected, the Oilers will have over $15 million in cap space, with 15 active roster players under contract.
Puck-moving defenseman Evan Bouchard is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.9 million. He reached a career-high 82 points last season. His production is down this season but he should still exceed 50 points.
Bouchard could seek between $9 million and $10 million annually. Assuming the Oilers convince him to accept a doubling of his current AAV to $7.8 million, it won’t leave enough to sign Rantanen and flesh out the rest of the roster. They must also ensure sufficient cap room to make Connor McDavid the NHL’s highest-paid player starting in 2026-27.
The Oilers could clear cap space by attempting to move players lacking no-trade protection like Viktor Arvidsson, Adam Henrique and Brett Kulak. They could also buy out the final season of Evander Kane’s contract, assuming he’s no longer on LTIR when the June buyout period rolls around. However, those moves will only further deplete their roster depth which will be difficult to replace if they sign Rantanen to an expensive contract.
Rantanen could seek a salary comparable to Draisaitl’s $14 million AAV. It could cost $16 million annually to keep McDavid in the fold. Even with the cap expected to reach $100 million in two years, it’s folly to have three forwards eating up over 40 percent of your annual cap payroll and expect to ice a roster deep enough to win the Stanley Cup.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE AVALANCHE AND HURRICANES?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau believes the Colorado Avalanche aren’t done making deals after shipping Mikko Rantanen to Carolina on Friday.
The Avs have over $3.9 million in cap space. Proteau speculates they could attempt to improve their depth at center, replenish their stockpile of draft picks or add a third-pairing defenseman.
TSN: Chris Johnston believes the Hurricanes could still make moves by the March 7 trade deadline. He thinks they could attempt to upgrade at center after sending Jack Drury to Colorado in the Rantanen deal. Johnston also thinks they’re fine in goal now that Frederik Andersen has returned from knee surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are in “win-now” mode so they could go shopping for more depth by March 7. The Avalanche could return to the market but their placement in the standings could determine whether they make another significant move or a smaller depth one.
Johnston’s colleague Pierre LeBrun reports the Hurricanes’ acquisition of Rantanen won’t change the trade deadline plans of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They still intend to make moves but the Rantanen blockbuster won’t influence their decisions.
