Report: Rangers among teams to inquire about J.T. Miller

The New York Rangers appear interested in bringing back J.T. Miller for a second tour of duty in the Big Apple.

New York is among several teams to inquire about the Vancouver Canucks forward, sources told The Athletic's Arthur Staple.

Miller, a 2011 first-round pick by the Rangers, spent the first six seasons of his career in New York before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018, along with Ryan McDonagh, in exchange for Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, Vladislav Namestnikov, and a pair of draft picks.

The versatile forward, capable of playing both center and wing, has enjoyed the best stretch of his career with the Canucks, who acquired him in 2019. He's averaged 29 goals and 52 assists per 82 games in Vancouver and leads the team with 48 points in 47 contests this season.

Miller wouldn't just be a rental, either, as he's signed through next season with a $5.25-million cap hit before becoming an unrestricted free agent, per CapFriendly.

The Canucks, who currently sit 13th in the Western Conference in points percentage, are widely expected to be sellers at this year's trade deadline.

New York's likeliest trade chip for an impact player is defenseman Nils Lundkvist, sources told Staple. The 2018 first-rounder has been surpassed by Braden Schneider on the right side of the team's blue-line depth chart. Lundkvist has recorded four points in 25 games during his rookie campaign.