Breaking: J.T. Miller has been traded!

It seems like the National Hockey League's most cap strapped teams are paying a premium today to unload some of their more expensive players. In case you've been asleep or living under a rock somewhere, Nashville Predators superstar defenseman P.K. Subban was traded this morning and Toronto Maple Leafs forward, and future hall of famer, Patrick Marleay has also been traded. Now it seems like it is the turn of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

According to a story first reported by TSN National Hockey League insider Bob McKenzie the Vancouver Canucks and the Tampa Bay Lightning appeared to be closing in on a trade on Saturday morning. McKenzie was clear to state that the deal had not been finalized just quite yet, but it sounded like Tampa Bay Lightning veteran J.T. Miller would be headed to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for some draft picks. It seems likely that this move is designed to be a salary dump for the Tampa Bay Lightning, so I do not expect that the Canucks will have given up a great deal in order to secure Miller's contract for their organization.

The report from McKenzie has now been echoed by TSN National Hockey League insider Pierre LeBrun who is reporting that the Vancouver Canucks have agreed to take on the full $5.25 million of Miller's salary as a part of this deal, so again it sounds like this was a moved designed to clear cap space for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is worth noting here that LeBrun uses much more firm language in his report, so it now sounds like this is in fact a done deal.

No word yet on which draft picks the Canucks have given up in this deal, but stayed tuned for more details as they become available. 

Update: Caley Chelios has just reported the return, and when you consider that the Lightning needed to clear space I do not think fans in Vancouver are going to be happy about it.

"The Lightning have traded forward J.T. Miller to Vancouver for a conditional first-round pick in 2020, a third-round selection in 2019 and goaltender Marek Mazanec," wrote Chelios. "Should the Canucks not make the playoffs in 2019-20, the first-round selection will move to the 2021 draft."