Canucks Sign Aaron Miller

[stevecanuck16]

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager Dave Nonis announced today that the Canucks have signed free agent defenceman Aaron Miller.

Miller, 35, joins the Canucks from the Los Angeles Kings where he played 82 games in the 2006-07 season recording eight points (0-8-8) and 60 penalty minutes.

The 11-year NHL veteran has career totals of 110 points (24-86-110) through 620 games played with three different teams. Miller has played 80 career playoff games and recorded 12 points (3-9-12) and 40 penalty minutes. His international experience includes representing the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy and winning a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Miller has also played for Team U.S.A. at the World Championships in 2005 and 2004, collecting bronze in his first World Championship series. He was also a member of the 2004 Team U.S.A. World Cup team and began playing for the U.S. in 1991 at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

The 6'4, 215-pound native of Buffalo, New York was originally drafted 88th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

[stevecanuck16]

This to me means that a top 4 defenseman is getting moved. My bet is Ohlund for a top six forward.

[Snipes19]

Not a bad move.
Miller adds good depth and he's a solid defensive player.

Steve, don't the Canucks only have 6 defenseman under contract though? Bieksa, Mitchell, Ohlund, Salo, Miller, and Krajicek. So it doesn't seem like they will be trading any defensemen. I could only see them doing that if they had a lot more depth at defense (they only have 6 players).

[stevecanuck16]

Originally Posted by Wes McSnipes

Not a bad move.
Miller adds good depth and he's a solid defensive player.

Steve, don't the Canucks only have 6 defenseman under contract though? Bieksa, Mitchell, Ohlund, Salo, Miller, and Krajicek. So it doesn't seem like they will be trading any defensemen. I could only see them doing that if they had a lot more depth at defense (they only have 6 players).

You're forgetting about Luc Bourdon and Alexander Edler. One or both should be NHL ready by this season.

[Snipes19]

Originally Posted by stevecanuck16

You're forgetting about Luc Bourdon and Alexander Edler. One or both should be NHL ready by this season.

Alright thanks. I looked at the Canucks depth chart and only saw five defensemen on there, so I was just curious.

If those youngsters are in fact NHL ready, then in that case it would be smart to move Ohlund for a to-6 forward. Vancouver needs some more scoring and they were unable to land a big scorer through free agency, so a trade could be on it's way.
We'll see.

[stevecanuck16]

Originally Posted by Wes McSnipes

Alright thanks. I looked at the Canucks depth chart and only saw five defensemen on there, so I was just curious.

If those youngsters are in fact NHL ready, then in that case it would be smart to move Ohlund for a to-6 forward. Vancouver needs some more scoring and they were unable to land a big scorer through free agency, so a trade could be on it's way.
We'll see.

Yeah, that would seem to be Nonis' plan here. I'm really hoping for Bourdon to step up into a top 4 role if Ohlund or someone else departs. That would be ideal.

[canuckfan]

Wow - talk about stacking the blue line.

I think you guys are right, I smell a trade in the works. Ohlund is the only guy I can think of that may be expendable, but he's such a rock back there - I can't see the Canucks dangling Bieksa, Mitchell or Salo - unless they want to part ways with Bourdon, Kraijcek, or Edler. Hmmmm - we need scoring badly, it will be interesting to see what Nonis does in the next few weeks...

[DaveBrown69]

May turn out allright for Vancouver. Have to see what shakes out though.

[Isles4life]

This definitely makes a trade more of a possibility, but I don't know if I'd want to part with a guy as solid as Ohlund on the back end. But, Vancouver could definitely use some scoring depth.

[HordiBrusk29]

The rumors have been Ohlund and Morrison to New Jersey for Elias. That would obviously be a great trade for the Canucks. I even heard Colin White possibly being thrown into the mix. We'll have to wait and see what happens...

[mongoose]

miller is a good pickup

[Odjick29]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

The rumors have been Ohlund and Morrison to New Jersey for Elias. That would obviously be a great trade for the Canucks. I even heard Colin White possibly being thrown into the mix. We'll have to wait and see what happens...

I've heard about that as well...I am praying that happens