The Avalanche passed the first of three straight tests against top Central Division teams and had a great Saturday all around. J.T. Miller almost didn’t play because of a potential trade but ended up dressing in a game that saw two players get ejected late.

Here are three blockbuster Avalanche trade targets in the wake of the stunning Mikko Rantanen trade with the Hurricanes.

The only reason J.T. Miller is being shopped by the Vancouver Canucks is because of his untenable relationship with star teammate Elias Pettersson. And that should make a team like the New York Rangers pause before trading for the 31-year-old forward. So says NHL insider Darren Dreger of TSN.

It’s also been six weeks since our last trade of significance with Mackenzie Blackwood moving to the Colorado Avalanche ... Miller. The flashes of brilliance are there but he just hasn’t ...

Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discuss the Mikko Rantanen deal, more NHL trade speculation, Connor Hellebuyck's record chase, Jacob Markstrom's injury and more.

The Carolina Hurricanes explored trades involving Vancouver Canucks stars J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson on separate deals before pulling off the three-team blockbuster deal to acquire Mikko Rantanen on Friday.

Elliotte Friedman shared details about the complications in the trade involving J.T. Miller and the New York Rangers. He claimed that the deal is more complicated than what has been publicly reported.

VANCOUVER -- J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson have a strained relationship that has negatively impacted the Vancouver Canucks, and president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford isn’t sure how to rectify the problem, admitting it may require trades he doesn’t want to make.

I didn’t think this would need to be updated so quickly. But when a historic mid-season trade between two contenders (and Chicago) breaks on a Friday night, things change. And so, too, have the Avalanche’s priorities.

Will he re-sign in Carolina after this season -- and if not, where else? And what will other contenders do to keep pace ahead of the March 7 deadline?

The Vancouver Canucks have played their way back into the light of the playoff race, and it was probably the best game of the season for goalie Thatcher Demko.