Sammi’s Daily: Why J.T. Miller Stayed In Vancouver, Capitals, Ovechkin Updates

The Washington Capitals had been one of the names intertwined with the J.T. Miller rumblings over the offseason, but that ongoing saga finally ended on Friday in somewhat of a surprising end, as Miller ended up staying put and re-signing long-term with the Vancouver Canucks.

Miller inked a seven-year, $56 million deal ($8 million AAV) to remain with the Canucks long term. There had been rumblings that Vancouver hadn’t been keen on giving the 29-year-old center a big pay raise or long-term deal. This led to Miller’s name ending up in trade talk, especially as he prepared to hit free agency in 2023.

However, Miller reportedly took a hometown discount and chose to put the team above his own needs.

“The conscious decision on J.T.’s part was that, ‘this is good. This can hopefully help build a contender here, help bring some Cups here, and if I leave a little bit on the table in a place that I love, that’s okay with me,'” Miller’s agent, Brian Bartlett, told Vancouver Hockey Now’s Rob Simpson. “It’s still an amount that’s nothing to sneeze at.”

With Miller staying on board, as well as former Capitals bench boss Bruce Boudreau leading Miller, Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, Quinn Hughes and more, the Cancuks could be a playoff team sooner rather than later.

In other headlines, Washington is continuing to prep for the season, and Alex Ovechkin is finishing up his summer in Russia before heading back to the States.

Here are all the latest news and notes from D.C. and across the NHL:

Washington Capitals Links

• Going into training camp, defenseman Vincent Iorio could be a name to watch and someone who could make a lot of noise in the blue line battle. (WHN)
• Join in some Capitals banter and other discourse this weekend. (Japers’ Rink)

NHL Links

• A closer look at Miller’s deal and why the star believes this type of deal will lead to a Stanley Cup sooner rather than later. Vancouver Canucks (VHN)
• One of my favorite stories: Czechia forward Ivan Ivan, who by far has one of the best names in the game, will play at the NHL’s rookie tournament for the Red Wings. Could the 20-year-old land in Detroit after going undrafted? Detroit Red Wings (DHN)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Ovechkin and his son, Sergei, dropped the puck at a Dynamo Moscow game on Saturday.

(Credit: mashanahapetova/Instagram)

• The Great 8 was also at Novogorsk Training Center in Moscow, appearing to get some off-ice work in before heading back to D.C. Ovechkin said last month that he intends to return to the States in early September.