Buffalo Sabres: Would trading for J.T. Miller make sense?

The Buffalo Sabres have enough draft picks and young talent at the AHL level to pull off a blockbuster trade this offseason. 

If Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams thinks his team is in position to win now, it is likely he will forgo the talent pool in the 2022 NHL Draft and instead trade one or more picks with a package of players for a proven veteran.

J.T. Miller of the Vancouver Canucks was one name thrown the trade rumor mill last season, with the New York Rangers serving as the highest bidder. Of course, the Sabres were in no position to land a big name at last year’s trade deadline, but given their success in March and April 2022, landing someone like Miller might make sense.

Would the Buffalo Sabres be smart to trade for a player like J.T. Miller?

The East Palestine, Ohio native is just 29 and he is coming off of the best season of his career having scored 99 points with 32 goals and 67 assists. Miller logged more ice time in 2021-22 than any other in his career, and he became a fixture on the Canucks power play unit.

While a contract extension could be on the table, the Canucks only have $10.8 million in cap space, meaning they may not be able to secure Miller to a long-term deal. Odds are, they will seek bidders for Miller’s services, and with three picks in the first round, the Sabres can make a move.

The question is, would it make sense to trade for Miller? If Kevyn Adams thinks the Sabres are in position to contend now, it’s a resounding yes. So what would a solid trade look like? We know the Canucks turned down the following from New York last season: A first round pick, Nils Lundvist, and Filip Chytil. 

If the Rangers and Canucks were reportedly close to a deal with the above, the Sabres could easily pull this off. And they should, assuming Adams believes it will be in the team’s best interest. This would be my proposal: Ninth overall pick, 28th overall pick, Casey Mittelstadt, and Henri Jokiharju for Miller. 

Adams reportedly wants a veteran defenseman to pair with Owen Power. So that may leave Jokiharju starting the season on the third line should Adams sign someone. It could also lead him to asking for a trade before the season begins. Mittelstadt’s potential could entice the Canucks, plus the two draft picks speak for themselves.

The Sabres would also retain the 16th overall pick while simultaneously getting rid of an underperforming center and a solid defenseman. For a player as good as J.T. Miller, this may be too good of a deal to pass up.