Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – December 22, 2024
An apparent rift between Canucks forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson plus a look at the Rangers trade candidates in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
LATEST ON THE MILLER-PETTERSON RIFT
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports on the apparent rift between Vancouver Canucks forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson that has been going on for a while.
Friedman said the Canucks thought this situation was resolved last year as the team and both players had a great year. It’s bled into their on-ice performance and affecting their play, taking a toll on their teammates, the coaching staff and the hockey operations department.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
Management prefers Miller and Pettersson to resolve their differences and remain long-term players within the organization. However, something will have to give if they can’t sort this out and maintain a professional relationship.
Iain MacIntyre noted that the two players have been teammates for over five years, becoming linemates and All-Stars while earning lucrative contracts with the Canucks. However, he believes their underperformance this season has adversely affected the club.
Meanwhile, Pettersson denied any rift with Miller in a post-game interview, accusing the media of “making shit up.” When a reporter asked if the rumors were distracting, Pettersson replied, “Oh my God. Next question”, then quickly left when there was nothing else asked.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Henkel cited a February report by Friedman indicating the Carolina Hurricanes had had trade discussions with the Canucks regarding Pettersson before the center signed his contract extension.
Henkel suggests the Hurricanes revisit their interest in Pettersson and see what the Canucks’ asking price might be. They would have to free up sufficient cap space to accommodate his $11.6 million average annual value and come up with the necessary pieces to make a tempting offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This won’t be the last time we hear speculation suggesting rival clubs contact the Canucks about Pettersson or Miller. Friedman’s report suggests management isn’t at that stage yet where they’d consider moving one of them. That could change if it remains an unnecessary distraction threatening their season.
RANGERS TRADE CANDIDATES
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple recently looked at New York Rangers’ trade candidates after they shipped winger Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.
Forwards Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith and defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Will Borgen are most likely to be moved. The four are eligible to become unrestricted free agents in July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’ll be shopped if the Rangers are out of playoff contention before the March 7 trade deadline.
Other possibilities include defensemen K’Andre Miller and Zac Jones and forwards Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller and Jones will become restricted free agents in July. Miller’s decline this season has prompted some to suggest he could be moved by the trade deadline or peddled during the offseason.
Kreider was reportedly on the list of trade candidates sent around the league by Rangers general manager Chris Drury. He has two years left on his contract with an AAV of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list. The usually reliable power forward has struggled this season with 11 goals in 29 games.
You would think 2 professional athletes could settle their differences as men and get on with being respectable teammates!This is ridiculous!
Agree. They need to grow up. They’re not 15 anymore.
What actual evidence any kind of conflict even exists beyond Elliotte’s self indulgent ramblings?
Exactly!
Then again, why would he dream up anything of that sort without some concrete background information. Former coach Bruce Boudreau acknowledges that there was tension between the two dating back to his time behind the bench, although he also says he thought that that had been patched up
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/nhl/news-bruce-boudreau-gives-two-cents-possible-rift-canucks-j-t-miller-elias-pettersson
To keep resurfacing this has to be a case of “where there’s smoke there’s fire.”
And, naturally, concerned Canucks fans are chiming in with their own thoughts … here’s a couple easy to find on the web
“The rumour I heard about a week after he (Miller) went on leave was that him and Tocc went at it after he was benched (rightfully so for being a pylon on the PK) and everybody heard it, including things like “I get benched for poor play and that f***** gets to play through it?!”.
“I was fairly neutral to start, but seeing Petterson go through the pressure of the fans/media/coaches over the last 7 months, versus JT letting his emotions bleed onto the ice and locker room, I am team Petey. I love Miller and when his passion is focused in the right way, he is unstoppable…but it happened with Horvat and now it’s happening with Petey; the common denominator is Miller.”
Were I a Canuck fan I would be more worried about something else Boudreau said in the URL George provided:
“When he was getting 100 points, (in the) year with me, he (Pettersson) was playing the wing with Miller and Boesser, or he was playing the wing with Horvat.” Boudreau said, “So I think a lot of it has to do with who he’s playing with and how good the rate of a power play is going with him. I’m hoping that it’s not a situation.”
At 11.6 million a year no player can be situationally effective.
Good point, LJ
how do Vancouver fans feel about Quinn as the captain? he seemed overwhelmed by it in the Amazon Faceoff series
The one statement that sticks for me when Hughes was named captain “This wont’ be a dictatorship” with that said I was sure he wasn’t captain material. This is a fricken hockey team, it’s a game. Always said you don’t build a team around Petersson and Hughes
Sr. & George..couldn’t agree more..two professionals that need to work through it.
This is the era we live in..all about me.
now we can call BS on JT Miller being send away from the team for “personal issues due to his healthy”, obviously he said something to Pettersson in front of the team that crossed the line.
Petterson has been slumping since the middle of last season, both players should be traded
Cue the JT Miller to NYR for Zibenajad+picks rumors, to happen right after the holidays
Also see Pettersson getting traded so the Canucks can break away from the distractions
If Colorado cannot get Ratanen to agree to a team friendly close to market value would Avs accept Kreids and Mika for Rats? Rather than lose him for nothing even though they could use him for a deep playoff run
Avs get speed in kreids a #2c in Mika. Both cost in total around what Rats May want but with an extra nhl body
For ny they can run rats on RW with chytl and Cuyle
Bread/Troch/Laf
Cuyle/chtyl/ Rats
Then bring up Othman for 3 LW Perrault on 3 RW and sign a UFA 3c
Miller also had run ins with Horvat and Schenn. Miller is an emotional guy and when things go well that is a positive thing, when they dont it can be over the top and even get into what could be seen as bullying. However Im sure that if Pettersson was playing great, that wouldnt bother him that much, but if you feel the outside pressure and from yourself, it can get to much to have Miller on your case as well and Pettersson is one of the few on the team with the status to tell Miller to f off. If they and the team starts playing well this will go away, but if not this could fester and become an even worse situation than it currently is.
Re the Canucks…
Forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson,
this is nothing New about these two not getting on…. it was happing when Bruce was coach and maybe before…❓
One of these two will have to get traded out but for what…..🤔 my thoughts are these 2 team need what the anucks have.. Both fit the Canucks age group
Two top team that could use them are Ottawa, they need leadership up Front, Buffalo need Scoring up front….
# 1
Canucks JT Millar for Ottawa’s 25 yr old centre Josh Norris right up
Or
#2Elias Pettersson, for Dylan cousins 23 yr old Centre & Bowin Byron the 23 yr old LD-man
NO – THANK – YOU! from Staios
agreed George. Why would sens trade a hard working sniper who’s easy going and friends with most of his teammates for a headcase like Miller. not a chance.
The Ottawa deal might have worked 4 weeks ago but not now. The Pettersson deal is plausible but Miller might be a fit as well but for Byram and a2nd
Canucks JT Miller for Leafs Morgan Reilly. Reilly needs a reset and Vancouver is home for him.
My top 5
1 Nate Dog still the Alpha male
2 Makar is best D man bar none not close
3 Leafs very soft team – Team Bandaid
4 Washington surprise team this year so far
5 Buffalo needs to blow it up one more time
Maybe the miller Peterson issues are off ice related.