December 20th, 2024
Alex Rickman
Elias Pettersson and JT Miller have a complex relationship. What exactly that relationship is like, no one knows for sure save for the two of them. However, after various trusted sources, including Rick Dhaliwal, Farhan Lalji, and even their former coach, Bruce Boudreau, made comments hinting at a problematic relationship between the two star forwards, the Canucks fanbase has been sent into a frenzy.
Let me start this by saying one thing: I don’t know what the situation is like in the Canucks locker room, I will never claim that I do, and anyone telling you that they know for sure what is happening right now is almost certainly exaggerating, if not lying through their teeth. So, knowing that I know nothing, let’s try to make some sense of this situation and see what may need changing for the Canucks to play up to their ability right now.
Rumours that Miller and Pettersson don’t see eye to eye are far from a new phenomenon. Miller has been the subject of rumours of friction with a few teammates during his time in Vancouver, including with ex-captain Bo Horvat. Once again, however, these have been, and continue to be, rumours. Right now though, these rumours are louder than ever, and the fact that Miller and Pettersson seem to be alternating nights on the top power play unit so as to keep them from sharing the ice is not helping to quell these whispers of tension.
I think the assumption that Miller and Petey don’t especially like one another is far from the boldest of takes right now, the question is have they really begun to let the relationship affect their play, or is this just coming up now due to them both having coincidental bad stretches at the same time. I don’t know if we’ll ever know the answer to this question, but it’s evident that for the Canucks to play their best hockey, something needs to change to get the best out of these two once again.
Some are wondering if the Canucks may have to part ways with one of their star centres. Let’s be as clear as possible here; if the Canucks are to trade either of Elias Pettersson or JT Miller, they are making a huge mistake, the likes of which this organization may not have made since parting ways with Cam Neely in 1986. It’s almost impossible to imagine a scenario in which the Canucks win a trade that sees them part with either of these players.
Centres like these are not easy to come by, and when these two are on their game, having that one-two punch of elite centremen is one of the biggest advantages this organization has. Parting ways with one of these players at a loss over what could be a molehill turned into a mountain by some would be nearly impossible to justify, and unless things take an extreme and unexpected turn, the thought of trading Miller or Petey should not be entertained whatsoever.
So, if there are in fact problems in the relationship between Miller and Pettersson, what should the Canucks do to handle things internally? Firstly, a trade for a veteran locker room presence who can help handle the potential personality problems in the room could be a worthwhile addition. Who exactly this may be is hard to say, but it feels as if the Canucks are short one presence to steady the ship and keep the room together, so if one who can also contribute on the ice can be brought in before the deadline, that would be a worthwhile addition.
Beyond that, if the relationship problems are real, Pettersson and Miller frankly need to learn how to handle these problems professionally and not drag their team down over a personal relationship. No one is asking them to be best friends, but it’s possible to work alongside people you don’t like in a manner that doesn’t affect your performance at your job. It’s about time that this comes to a stop and Miller and Pettersson learn how to work together.
The late Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal famously did not see eye to eye during their time as teammates on the Lakers, with Kobe’s borderline psychotic competitive drive clashing with Shaq’s more laid-back approach to his job. In spite of this, the pair worked together just fine on the court, teaming up to win 3 championships together. If one of the greatest duos in NBA history could consist of a pair of players who didn’t like one another, surely JT Miller and Elias Pettersson can find a way to be successful as a duo no matter what they may think about each other.
Ultimately, we don’t, and may never, know the truth about Miller and Pettersson’s relationship, and making assumptions or jumping to conclusions about what the truth is or what needs to happen will only make things worse. So, for now, let’s just hope that whatever may be happening in the Canucks locker room can be cleaned up and that the whole roster can band together to play to the best of their ability and win some hockey games. You don’t have to like your teammates, but you’ve gotta work with them.