Replacing the future Hall of Famer with Miller will help keep the Penguins’ window open for a little longer. Penguins Need to Add Miller if Malkin LeavesĬrosby will be 35 to start next season, and without Malkin, the club is taking a major hit up the middle. The organization could also trade both picks to move up in the draft if teams are willing to move down. He is a 6-foot, 201-pound right-shot defenceman and could fill in a major need for the Canucks. On defence, Ryan Chesley is ranked 29 by Baracchini and 25 by McKenzie. Forward Brad Lambert, ranked 20th by Baracchini, is right-handed and can play wing and centre, or Frank Nazar, ranked 15th by TSN insider Bob McKenzie, is a right-shot centre and could potentially be taken at either 15 or 21.

The club needs a right-shot defenceman and a right-shot centre. However, the Canucks have an option to take the best player available at 15th overall and then fill in one of their needs with the 21st overall pick. Related: 2022 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini’s Top 160 Final Rankings THW’s Peter Baracchini has left winger Isaac Howard ranked 21 in his top 160 final rankings for the 2022 Draft. With the 15th overall pick and the 21st overall pick, the Canucks can add two quality players to their prospect pool. The Penguins hold the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Poulin is the Penguins’ top prospect and will be needed in a deal for Miller. Samuel Poulin, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2019 NHL Draft ( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)Ī majority of the Canucks top prospects have graduated to the NHL, so adding top prospects is necessary for the club. The Canucks need a right-handed defenceman, and Marino is a player they are likely interested in. Therefore, in order to keep Letang, one of the team’s NHL defencemen needs to be traded, which includes Brain Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson and Jon Marino. Yohe notes general manager Ron Hextall is aware that no one on the team’s current roster can replace Letang as the team’s number one defenceman. John MarinoĪlong with Malkin, right-shot defenceman Kris Letang is also a UFA this offseason.

The Penguins’ opportunity to win a fourth Stanley Cup with Sidney Crosby is starting to close, so they should be one of the teams willing to offer up a lot in a trade for Miller. Dreger also believes the Canucks will get an offer they can’t refuse. TSN’s Darren Dreger noted the Canucks want good young players along with draft picks in a trade for Miller. Miller is coming off a career year where he scored 32 goals and posted 99 points in 80 games. If he chooses to move on from his career, Miller would be an ideal replacement for him. Penguins’ president of hockey operations Brian Burke noted the organization should know soon whether Malkin will return to the club next season.

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