The lengthy chapter on the J.T. Miller trade saga is finally closing.
The last piece of the trade that sent the forward from the Canucks to the Rangers will be finalized at the upcoming NHL Draft. The teams announced Tuesday that New York decided to transfer its 12th overall pick in this year`s draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins, opting not to defer it to 2026.
This complex deal evolved into a three-team transaction. The Canucks originally traded Miller to the Rangers, along with defensemen Jackson Dorrington and Erik Brannstrom. In return, Vancouver received Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and New York`s 2025 first-round draft pick, which was protected for selections 1-13.
Subsequently, the Rangers traded that protected first-round pick to the Penguins. The deal also included Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, and Melvin Fernstrom heading to Pittsburgh in exchange for defensemen Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O`Connor.
Due to the top-13 protection on the pick, and the Rangers landing the 12th overall selection in the upcoming draft, the pick *would have* automatically deferred to the 2026 draft. However, the Rangers chose instead to yield their 2025 pick now and retain their 2026 first-rounder.
Playing his second tenure with the Rangers, Miller rediscovered some of his previous form following the widely discussed trade from Vancouver. The 31-year-old forward accumulated 35 points (13 goals and 22 assists) in 32 games during his return to New York.
Despite Miller`s effective play, the Rangers ultimately failed to qualify for the post-season, finishing the season with a record of 39-36-7.
The Pittsburgh Penguins finished the season below the Rangers in the standings, holding the second-worst record in the Metropolitan Division at 34-36-12.
