One of the biggest questions facing the Vancouver Canucks has been answered. With JT Miller entering the final year of his contract, what would the Canucks do? It turns out they will be extending the star forward’s contract, re-signing him to a seven-year contract. Miller and the Canucks, by both sides’ admission, were far apart in contract talks earlier in the offseason. Patrik Allvin said he wasn’t “super-optimistic” about reaching a deal, but they apparently found common ground, settling on a $56 million deal with an $8 million cap hit per season. That ties him for the 16th-highest hit among NHL centers. With 99 points last season, Miller was 9th in NHL scoring. The cap hit is lower than some projections and should provide good value at the start of the contract if Miller can continue his past torrid scoring past years in Vancouver. “He was the best player for us last year and he’s a really, really good hockey player,” Alvin said earlier in the offseason. He and Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford were always clear the goal was to re-sign Miller, even if they weren’t always sure they could do it. The contract provides a lot of peace of mind for both Miller and the Canucks next season as it avoids the distraction of Miller’s condition. Miller’s agent, Brian Bartlett, had suggested he would hold off on contract talks until the start of the regular season, giving the Canucks time to complete the deal. Re-signing Miller now, before training camp, avoids even more distractions. The deal also removes Miller as a potential trade chip for the Canucks. Miller’s name came up frequently in trade rumors, though it was more tied to his age and expiring contract than any suggestion the Canucks were shopping him. By the time his new contract begins, Miller will be 30 years old and the contract will take him until 37. The pressure will now be on the Canucks to push hard to be competitive in the earlier years of the contract before his game declines and the significant hit on the cap becomes weight. Canucks captain Bo Horvat is also in the final year of his contract. Whether Miller’s contract extension makes re-signing Horvat more difficult remains to be seen.
