RUMOR: Team reportedly won't bring STAR player back next year.

Canucks can't bring back Miller

In a woeful season that sees the team miss the playoffs for the second year in a row, Ryan Miller has arguably been the Vancouver Canucks’ most valuable player. His three year contract expires this offseason and the 37 year-old’s future in Vancouver is very much up in the air. 

His heir apparent, Jacob Markstrom, has looked good at times in Vancouver, but hasn’t been able to lay claim to the starting position. That’s because simply put: Ryan Miller has been the team’s best goaltender. Top prospect Thatcher Demko is putting up incredible numbers in the AHL, but he still may be a season or two away from playing at the NHL level. So with the Canucks now being stuck in the middle, what do they do with Ryan Miller?

Canucks insider Jason Botchford thinks the team simply cannot bring Miller back into the fold if the team’s stated objective of getting younger is to be believed. “He’s the oldest goalie playing in hockey and they have Jacob Markstrom sitting there who they have signed for the next three years. Jacob Markstrom is ten years younger than Ryan Miller and the goal of this team is to be getting younger,” said Botchford on Vancouver’s TSN 1040 Radio.

One thing’s for sure, the Canucks are a team in transition both this season and next season. If Miller returns for next season, could he hinder Markstrom’s development? Or could he help it? Can Markstrom handle the load or will the Canucks sink even further in the standings with Miller gone? As per usual, the goalie crease in Vancouver is full of question marks.