Off-Season Countdown: Miller watch is on

Ahead of the opening round of the NHL Draft on Thursday and free agency on July 13, TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat.

All Eyes on Miller

It appears the J.T. Miller sweepstakes are heating up.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports the Vancouver Canucks' asking price for the forward remain high, but interest in the 29-year-old is "very strong."

Miller is coming off a career-year, in which he posted 32 goals and 99 points in 80 games, but with just a year left on his deal at $5.2 million cap hit, his future with the Canucks is far from certain.

Responding to reports of trade talk surrounding Miller, Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said last month that as much as the team would like to keep Miller, re-signing him to a long-term deal may not make sense for Vancouver.

“It’s when you get into starting a long-term contract there does become more risk later in the long-term contract,” Rutherford told Patrick Johnston of the Vancouver Province. “With J.T. Miller, we’ve suggested we would like to keep him. He’s been a good player for the Canucks.

“(But) it may not make sense for both sides. This is a time that he’s earned, going into free agency. We’d like to do it but we’ve got to be careful.”

The Canucks, who missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years this season, have $2.15 million in cap space after re-signing Brock Boeser to a three-year, $19.95 million last week.

Puljujarvi Watch

While the Edmonton Oilers have suitors for restricted free agent Jesse Puljujarvi, the potential return appears to be falling short of expectations for now.

TSN's Ryan Rishaug reports that as many as four teams are in the mix "kicking tires" on the 24-year-old winger. He adds, however, that the return is "marginal" to this point, though that could change over the coming days.

Oilers general manager Ken Holland was noncommittal when asked whether Puljujarvi would be a part of the team's long-term plans after the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs last month.

“That’s what I have to sort out,” Holland said. “I talked to Jesse yesterday and I know he’s disappointed. He had a great start. I think he had six goals in his first 10 games and the first 13, 14, 15 games he was almost a point-a-game, but the second half of the year was a real struggle.

"I think he lost his confidence. He was in the top six and worked his way down to the bottom six. But he’s only 24 years; he’s still relatively young. I have to sort out Jesse."

Puljujarvi scored 14 goals and posted 36 points in 65 games this season, adding two goals and one assist in 16 playoff games.

Selected fourth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, Puljujarvi has 46 goals and 98 points in 259 career games with the Oilers. 

He is coming off a two-year, $2.35 million contract.
 

Chychrun Watch Back On?

While Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong appeared to quell rumours surrounding Jakob Chychrun last week, it appears the trade watch could be back on.

Citing two sources, Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch reports that the Blue Jackets are talking with the Coyotes ahead of Thursday's NHL Draft. He notes that Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has stated he's open to dealing the 12th overall pick if he can acquire a young player with term.

The Blue Jackets hold the sixth overall selection from the Chicago Blackhawks - acquired in last summer's Seth Jones trade - in addition to their own pick at 12th overall in Thursday's draft. 

Fitting Chychrun's $4.6 million cap hit shouldn't be an issue for Columbus, who (according to CapFriendly) have $19.5 million in cap space with 20 players under contract. It does, however, leave Patrik Laine still to sign among the four restricted free agents this summer.

If Chychrun is available, Ken Warren of Postmedia believes the Ottawa Senators should also be interested in the blueliner. Warren writes that the Senators would likely have to part with their selection at seventh overall in addition to a young defenceman such as Erik Brannstrom or 2019 first-round pick Lassi Thomson in addition to another player.

The Coyotes already hold three picks in the first round at No. 3, No. 27 and No. 32, in addition to four picks in the second round of the draft on Friday.

Signed through 2024-25, Chychrun had seven goals and 21 points in 47 games last season, his sixth with the Coyotes. Drafted 16th overall by the Coyotes at the 2016 NHL Draft, he had a career season with Arizona in 2020-21, scoring 18 goals and tallying 41 points in 56 games.