Jun 26, 2018
Lightning sign J.T. Miller to 5-year deal
The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed trade deadline pickup J.T. Miller to a five-year, $26.25 million contract. Miller, 25, skated in 19 games with the Lightning last season upon joining the team from the New York Rangers.
TSN.ca Staff
The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed trade deadline pickup J.T. Miller to a five-year, $26.25 million contract - a $5.25 million AAV.
Miller skated in 19 games with the Lightning last season, scoring 10 goals and posting 18 points, upon joining the team from the New York Rangers.
He had 23 goals and 58 points in 82 games between the Lightning and Rangers. Miller added two goals and eight points in 17 playoff games.
The 25-year old was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in 360 career games, and has recorded 156 points in that span.
Miller was traded from the Rangers along with Ryan McDonagh to the Lightning in exchange for Brett Howden, Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hajek, a first-round pick in the 2018 draft and a conditional second-round pick in the 2019 draft.
Miller is coming off a two-year contract worth $5.5 million, with an AAV of $2.75 million. He was scheduled to be restricted free agent this summer.
According to CapFriendly, Miller's contract leaves the Lightning with $5.31 million in cap space this summer with three restricted free agents - Adam Erne, Cedric Paquette and Slater Koekkoek - left to sign.
The Lightning are among the teams meeting with John Tavares this week and general manager Steve Yzerman acknowledged the team would have to fit the star centre under the cap.
“Well, we would have to make room, we would have to make room,” Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman acknowledged to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun . “If we brought in a significant salary, we would have to (make cap room).”
Miller is one of six Lightning players signed through at least the 2021-22 season, joining Steven Stamkos, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn and Victor Hedman.