Rangers, Canucks Take Bold Steps Beyond Status Quo

The Rangers and Canucks just showed the NHL that sometimes you’ve got to take big risks to win big.

Both teams were stuck on the playoff bubble, and neither was happy about it. So they pulled the trigger on a deal that’s got everyone talking.

The centerpiece? J.T. Miller heading to New York, with Filip Chytil going the other way to Vancouver.

It’s the kind of trade that makes old-school hockey executives nervous. The Canucks traded away their best center – usually a big no-no in the NHL. And the Rangers? They’re betting big on a 30-year-old having a down year.

But here’s where it gets interesting.

Miller, who put up 100 points not too long ago, could be exactly what the Rangers need for a deep playoff run. He’s the kind of player that gives opposing coaches headaches when they’re trying to match lines.

For Vancouver, things had gotten pretty messy. Team president Jim Rutherford basically admitted that Miller and star center Elias Pettersson couldn’t coexist anymore.

The Canucks didn’t just get Chytil, though. They snagged a first-round pick (top-13 protected) that they quickly flipped to grab defenseman Marcus Pettersson from Pittsburgh.

Speaking of Chytil, he’s a bit of a wild card. The 25-year-old has proven he can score 20 goals in the NHL, but he hasn’t been the same since a nasty concussion sidelined him for 72 games last year.

Rangers GM Chris Drury isn’t messing around. Since getting knocked out by eventual champs Florida last spring, he’s been reshaping his team’s core. He’s moved Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, and now Chytil, while bringing in guys like Will Borgen.

Both teams were tired of being on the outside looking in. Sometimes you’ve got to shake things up to make things happen.

Is it risky? You bet. But in today’s NHL, playing it safe isn’t always the answer.