The Vancouver Canucks add some skill and tenacity in the 26-year-old J.T. Miller, while the Tampa Bay Lightning gain a little cap flexibility.
Canucks get: F J.T. Miller
Lightning get: G Marek Mazanec, 2019 third-round pick (No. 71), conditional first-round pick (either 2020 or 2021)
Vancouver Canucks: A-
The Canucks took advantage of the Lightning's cap conundrum to land a versatile player with cost certainty through 2023, in exchange for an AHL goalie in Marek Mazanec, a third-rounder and a conditional pick.
Miller's ability to play all three forward positions gives Vancouver some much-needed offensive options in its lineup, especially if Miller recaptures that 20-goal form that he had with the Rangers. He's a forward who can be tenacious around the puck, and he's just 26.
For the price, both against the cap and in acquiring him, it's a good deal for the Canucks.
Tampa Bay Lightning: B+
This was obviously a move made for salary-cap considerations. It's not a bad one, considering the Canucks are taking on the full freight of Miller's contract, which pays him $5.25 million annually through 2023.
The Lightning had a few forwards they could have moved to open up space, but Miller made the most sense. Not only does coach Jon Cooper have a longer relationship with players like Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, tracking back to his time in the AHL, but Miller had a modified no-trade clause in his contract compared to full trade protection for the other two.
Miller was fine in Tampa, but never fine enough to nail down a steady role among the Lightning's top-six forwards. Because this move greatly increases the chances that the Lightning re-sign RFA Brayden Point, it's a good one, even if the return may not be overwhelming.