It wouldn’t be summer in Vancouver without upheaval in the Canucks crease. So what better way to kick off this one with yet another episode in the long and tired history of goalie controversy this side of the Rockies?

This, of course, was exactly what the Canucks were looking to avoid when they signed Ryan Miller to a three-year deal, worth $18-million last off-season. For most of the season at least, it was mission accomplished. Miller’s numbers weren’t sterling by any stretch of the imagination, but he was hardly a liability.

Willie Desjardins is more loyal than most dogs and this old school trait lent itself well to maintaining the pecking order in net. The upstart Eddie Lack was played sparingly, seeing action maybe once every three or so weeks, before injuries forced him into a more prominent role. When the Canucks needed their goalie most, Lack delivered, dragging this team into the playoffs kicking and screaming.

Lack’s value is now as high as it’s ever been and with just the one season left on his contract, Canucks brass are faced with the reality that they might need to eschew their charismatic netminder out of town if for no other reason than logistics. Many would consider Miller’s contract, which comes with a limited no-trade clause, prohibitive to any move of the aging tender – a move which, in theory, would facilitate Lack’s succession to the throne.

Do the Canucks have the ability to move on from Miller, though? Lets find out, on the other side of the jump.

If the Roberto Luongo saga taught us anything, it’s that no contract is immovable – even when the player involved suggests as much. Miller is no Luongo, but they’re close enough in age and annual average value that there are some parallels to be drawn – what difference there is in ability between the two should be marginally offset by the decreased risk with taking on just the final two-years of Miller’s contract.

There is somewhat of a precedent to be drawn here for any potential Miller deal, using just the one most recent example from this very locale.

Another shining example of this being a distinct possibility would be the Toronto Maple Leafs acquisition of Jean-Sebastien Giguere at the 2010 deadline – a purely financial transaction that required the Ducks take on Jason Blake’s skeleton and a few hours of Vesa Toskala.

So while there is a distinct possibility that there might be some semblance of a market for Miller’s services, it’s not likely that the Canucks would receive much in the way of a worthwhile return; in all likelihood they might have to take on an ugly contract to make this happen. What else is new? Check out this list below, which includes some of the more recent goaltender transactions to have taken place. You’ll note that there’s a Vezina Trophy winner, another candidate and several more than competent starters where the tenders are concerned, and maybe one all-star among positional players swapped in return.

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The real haul in any deal that sends Miller out of town would be the roughly $6-million in cap space that the Canucks would clear for these next two seasons.

Of note, though, is that Miller has a limited no-trade clause which allows the netminder to submit a list of five teams which he would be willing to waive his no-trade for. One has to assume that Miller would be willing to move on to any of the three California teams; such a move would have Miller in close proximity to his wife, Noureen DeWulf, who happens to be an actress. With the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks set in goal for the foreseeable future, that leaves just the San Jose Sharks who are set to let Antti Niemi test free agency and lack a viable succession plan.

The Sharks have more than enough cap space to fit Miller’s contract, with an estimated $17.2-million between themselves and the upper limit of the salary cap. With just Melker Karlsson, Matt Irwin and Brenden Dillon as priority signings, the Sharks have all the flexibility in the world to make this trade happen; further to that point, the next season presents even less in the way of impact free agents within their ranks. It’s certainly not a move I would make in Doug Wilson’s shoes, but this is the same general manager that employed John Scott this season.

Looking elsewhere there aren’t many job openings to be found; especially within close proximity to Miller’s family. One potential wild card, however, would be a former employer of Miller’s, the Buffalo Sabres. Yes, those Sabres.

The Sabres will enter this off-season with somewhere in the neighbourhood of $40-million in cap space; just to reach the floor, Buffalo will have to spend $20-million. There aren’t any priority free agents within their ranks, but by that same token, they’ve a laundry list of pieces they will need to add. Near the top of this list, though, is a goaltender.

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Would a return to upstate New York work well for both sides? One can only wonder.

All this is to say that trading Miller isn’t impossible – crazier things have happened. It most certainly is an option for the Canucks to explore this summer. That said, I’m not entirely sure it’s one they will. Miller’s no-trade isn’t an old regime holdover; in fact it’s the first contract of its kind handed out by Benning. I also don’t know if management is 100% in on Eddie Lack; that they went to a hobbled Miller in game six against Calgary speaks volumes, or so one would think.

All that’s certain is that one of the Canucks triumvirate of netminders will change addresses this off-season. The option of trading Lack has already been explored. Jacob Markstrom could just walk this off-season, or have his rights traded. Miller, well, we can always dream.





