As we head into Round 1 on Thursday night, it looks like the Canucks have their answer. According to sources, the Canucks met with Miller’s camp on Tuesday in Montreal and the two sides remain far apart on the parameters of a potential contract extension. Miller, 29, can sign an extension on July 13. He has one year left on his current deal at a bargain price of $5.25 million. Coming off a career-best 99-point season, the writing was on the wall for a while between Miller and the Canucks. He’ll turn 31 at the end of the first season of his new deal, and Vancouver doesn’t seem willing to give Miller the tenure he almost certainly would have on the open market a year from now. With that, expect trade talks to intensify for Miller, who moved up to No. 2 on our latest Trade Targets chart. Of course, there’s no guarantee of a trade since Miller is under contract for next season. But given the interest in Miller, the Canucks’ desire for more salary cap flexibility, and the ability to bring more teams into the game than at next season’s trade deadline — all add up to a player who could very well to play the move in short order. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Miller’s rise wasn’t the only change in Trade Targets. The skaters of St. Louis Blues, Vladimir Tarasenko and Torey Krug, in addition to Zack Kassian. Here’s the most recent Trade Targets table, whose ranking always tries to combine a player’s prominence with the likelihood of a trade:

  1. Alex DeBrincatLeft Wing, Chicago BlackhawksAge: 24Stats: 82 GP, 41 G, 37 A, 78 PtsContract: 1 more season, $6.4M AAVScoop: The question is “when,” not “if” the Hawks will move two times Scorer 40 goals. Is it this summer or before next season’s trade deadline? There seems to be enough interest to get a deal done now. The Hawks would like to land a major (read: Top 5) pick on Thursday night if possible. At least four teams are believed to have presented significant and substantial offers for DeBrincat. If it seems strange to you that the rebuilding Blackhawks would want to move a sniper who is just hitting his prime with more goals than Nathan MacKinnon and Brad Marchand over the past four seasons, consider these three points: 1) DeBrincat is Chicago’s best trading chip to start stocking up in the future. assets; 2) By the time Chicago gets to where it wants to be, it will be middle-aged by NHL standards. 3) With a qualifying offer of $9 million due at the end of next season, they would need to pay a lot to keep him on a team that should be struggling.
  2. JT Miller ⬆️Center, Vancouver Canucks Age: 29 Stats: 80 GP, 32 G, 67 A, 99 PtsContract: 1 more season, $5.25M AAVScoop: There’s no shortage of outside interest in Miller that the Canucks have shown since before GM Patrik Allvin was even hired. Miller has amassed 217 points in 202 games with the Canucks. The point is that the Ohio native would prefer to play in the United States. One of his previous clubs, the New York Rangers, has been discussed as a possibility. The New Jersey Devils are believed to be interested, in addition to the Washington Capitals as a potential replacement for Nicklas Backstrom. Expect the return to be north of what Kevin Fiala brought for Minnesota. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
  3. Blake WheelerRight Wing, Winnipeg JetsAge: 35Stats: 65 GP, 17 G, 43 A, 60 PtsContract: 2 more seasons, $8.25M AAVScoop: Sources say Jets have begun scouting market and working with teams on the possibility of moving Wheeler, the franchise stalwart and last remaining stock from the Atlanta Thrashers days. Wheeler has complete control over his destination until July 1, when his full no-move clause turns into a five-team list to which he would accept a trade. The early sense is that Wheeler might be willing to consider a proposed destination that’s also not on his list if it’s a good fit for his family and career. Will his cap hit prove difficult to move? Probably not. Wheeler could be the missing piece for a contending team as a points-per-game, driving force with size and heart.
  4. Jakob ChychrunLeft Defense, Arizona CoyotesAge: 24Stats: 47 GP, 7 G, 14 A, 21 PtsContract: 3 more seasons, $4.6M AAVScoop: The rebuilding Columbus Blue Jackets were recently mentioned as a possible fit for Chychrun. Los Angeles will likely remain in the mix. As his name was in the news last season, Chychrun said he learned a lesson: “Stay off the phone.” Chychrun also hinted at his end-of-season media availability that he’s not ready for more rebuilding of the scorched earth in the Valley of the Sun. “These things are important to me. I want to be in a position where I’m getting ready to play [in the playoffs], not to pack up and leave the boys.” Will the coyotes make a comeback? The four-piece package requested by Arizona was met with polarizing views from other GMs.
  5. Vladimir Tarasenko 🆕Right wing, St. Louis BluesAge: 30Stats: 75 GP, 34 G, 48 A, 82 Pts Contract: 1 more season, $7.5M AAVScoop: Unlike Jake DeBrusk, Tarasenko’s trade request was never void. After the Blues questioned Tarasenko’s commitment and character – even though their doctor failed two shoulder surgeries – and left him exposed in the Expansion Draft, Tarasenko responded with the best season of his career. He was a force, leading the team in scoring, but he was still only sixth among Blue forwards in ice time. Now, Tarasenko is a year away from free agency, and the benefit to the Blues is that they can certainly get more for him this time around as a proven difference-maker. He could be the game breaker the Hurricanes desire.
  6. Devils’ No. 2 overall pick in New Jersey DevilsScoop: You’d have to go back more than two decades, to 2001, to find the last time a team traded up from the top three pick after landing there in the Draft Lottery . It was a crazy one. The Islanders dealt the rights to No. 2 (Jason Spezza) to Ottawa with Zdeno Chara and Bill Muckalt in exchange for Alexei Yashin. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald says New Jersey is open to it this year: “I’m open to anything that can help our team improve.” If they decide to keep the pick, they’ll have a choice between Shane Wright, Juraj Slafkovsky, Logan Cooley or really talented defensemen David Jiricek and Simon Nemec. Could Fitzgerald’s phone hit the heavy floor depending on who Montreal gets?
  7. Jesse Puljujarvi. The 2016 No. 4 overall pick has drawn interest from teams who see his frame and underlying numbers as untapped potential. He struggled in the playoffs with just two goals and three points in 16 games, often looking like a deer in headlights. The Oilers are looking for a player of similar potential, perhaps someone whose career has been on a similar track to Puljujarvi, in exchange for a draft pick. Edmonton is looking for a player or project that can build again.
  8. John GibsonGoaltender, Anaheim DucksAge: 28Stats: 56 GP, 18-26-11, 3.19 GAA, .904 Sv%Contract: 5 more seasons, $6.4M AAVScoop: Gibson’s agent didn’t go on the record and said that his client did not make the record trade in Anaheim. Still, the Ducks are certainly open to moving him. In March, he was picked up by new Ducks manager Pat Verbeek as a lifeline for teams in need of a netminder. Gibson’s contract may be prohibitive for a goaltender who has been below the league average in save percentage for each of the last three seasons — but the Ducks could be willing to keep salary to increase performance. With the right stroke, Gibson could be a fit for a playoff team, having been one of the most consistent and talented goaltenders in the league just a few years ago. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
  9. Tyson BarrieRight Defense, Edmonton OilersAge: 30 Stats: 73 GP, 7 G, 34 A, 41 PtsContract: 2 more seasons, $4.5M AAVScoop: Part of Barrie’s future in Edmonton may hinge on Duncan’s decision Keith to return for a second season. as he contemplates retirement. The Oilers aren’t negative on Barrie, so much so that they’ll need to create salary cap flexibility if they’re able to re-sign Evander Kane. Sliding Barrie, an elite power play facilitator, elsewhere would be one way to try to achieve this. The ready defensive solution would be if 2019 No. 8 overall pick Philip Broberg is ready to take the next step, picking up the slack for Barrie on the right side with Cody Ceci and Evan Bouchard next season.
  10. Jeff PetryRight Defense, Montreal CanadiensAge: 34Stats: 68 GP, 6 G, 21 A, 27 PtsContract: 3 more seasons, $6.25M AAVScoop: Last season was a write-off for both Petry and the Montreal Canadiens . Both player and team struggled, and the Habs acknowledged they would try to facilitate a trade to help Petry, whose family is back in the US. This is difficult for any player. At the same time, the Canadiens know Petry didn’t suddenly forget how to play hockey, the pandemic restrictions are now lifted, and they aren’t willing to pay assets to move a player who is definitely better than last season. He would be a solid backup plan in Pittsburgh if the Penguins can’t re-sign Kris Letang. There is a potential domino effect with some of the power play linemen available: Barrie, Petry, Tony DeAngelo and Torey Krug.
  11. Alexandar GeorgievGoaltender, New York RangersAge: 26Stats: 33 GP, 2.92 GAA, 0.898 Sv%Contract: Pending RFA, Arbitration…