'Something's Going To Give': What Happens If Canucks' Pettersson And Miller Saga Can't Be Quashed?

Former Vancouver Canucks players are sharing their thoughts on the rampant rumors that stars J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson are at odds with each other.

Brad Richardson, who played 17 games in his second stint for the Canucks in 2021-22, spoke on the Missin' Curfew podcast about his two former teammates on Jan. 1.

"I love J.T., love him – he's a f----n animal," Richardson said. "I even told him, I said, 'Hey, you're too hard on this kid... I know you're saying exactly what I think, but (Pettersson's) a kid that doesn't take – when you're on him, on him, he's going to shut it down.' I told him like, 'Hey, you're going to lose this guy if you keep doing it."

Richardson added that there's a lot of tension, and while not every teammate has to love each other, something's going to give.

Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat, now with the Islanders, spoke to The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner about the rumors, saying the who situation has definitely been blown out of proportion.

"That's what Vancouver is all about, is the Canucks," Horvat said. "So every little thing that's going on in that dressing room or going on with the team, it's gonna get magnified, for sure, and that just comes with playing there.

"There's not always gonna be good things said. It's got to be a tricky situation. It's got to be tough. But if any two guys, or if anybody can handle it, those guys can."

Clearly, some people believe this predicament has been made into something more than it really is in a high-intensity Canadian market. But we’re of the opinion that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and that means Canucks management has to nip this situation in the bud if the team doesn't improve in the standings.

While there’s a case to be made that it’s still too soon for Vancouver to pick a side and trade away either Pettersson or Miller, this writer's opinion is that if the Canucks do have to make a deal, the guy that needs to be traded is Miller. Despite Pettersson's flaws, he is a foundational player for Vancouver in a way that Miller just isn’t.

We’re not suggesting that Miller is a poor player. He’s a star in his own right, and his offensive production – including 19 assists and 25 points in 27 games this season – would be more than welcomed by any team in the NHL.

But for starters, the 26-year-old Pettersson is five years younger than Miller. Pettersson is having a down year on offense – posting 18 assists and 28 points in 34 games – but you still haven’t seen Pettersson in his prime years.

Pettersson is also under contract to the Canucks through the 2031-32 season, while Miller is signed through the 2029-30 campaign. If you’re looking for cost certainty and contract longevity – all teams are – you’ve got more of it with Pettersson than you do with Miller.

Miller’s $8-million annual salary makes him considerably easier to trade than Pettersson and his $11.6-million salary. Their annual cap hits shouldn’t be the key driver in deciding which of the two players needs to go, but it’s undeniable that teams pressed up against the salary cap ceiling would have an easier time fitting Miller into their budget.

Related: The Canucks Are Playing Whac-A-Mole: Now With Hughes, Pettersson Injuries And Collapse Vs. Kraken

Of course, it’s not too late for the Canucks to find a way to prove to everyone that there's peace between the two players and finally stop people from talking about them. But Richardson's comments suggest there’s been tension between the two players for a while, and that can't be good for the dressing room if it's still going on.

Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford is known in GM circles as a proactive manager when it comes to trades, so it’s possible we’re not going to see this drama continue for much longer. Either the team goes on a hot streak and proves whatever's going on isn't nearly as bad as it's suspected to be, or it ends with someone being moved. So if Miller waives his no-move clause by the NHL trade deadline in March, we'll probably know why.

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