Lightning Trade Forward J.T. Miller to Vancouver
By Parker White
On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded J.T. Miller to the Vancouver Canucks for a couple draft picks. Talk about a wild weekend of NHL trades.
Tampa Bay will receive a conditional first-round pick in 2020 and a third-round pick in 2019, as well as goaltender Marek Mazanec.
TRADE: The Lightning have traded forward J.T. Miller to Vancouver for a conditional first-round pick in 2020, a third-round selection in 2019 and goaltender Marek Mazanec. Should the Canucks not make the playoffs in 2019-20, the first-round selection will move to the 2021 draft.
— Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) June 22, 2019
Miller is a very solid forward, but Tampa Bay needed to clear room under the salary cap. The Lightning only had roughly $5.9 million in cap space, and by moving Miller they freed up another $5.25 million, as the Canucks will take on what's remaining on Miller's deal.
The Canucks are taking on the full weight of JT Miller’s contract which has four more years at a $5.25M cap hit. That’s key for cap-challenged Tampa obviously. The Canucks get a real good player though.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2019
Miller, 26, has spent the last two seasons with the Lightning after being drafted in the first round by the New York Rangers back in 2011. Miller was part of the blockbuster deal that sent Ryan McDonagh out of New York.
Last season, Miller played in 75 games and tallied 47 points, including 13 goals and 34 assists.