Do J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson dislike each other so much that it’s souring the whole team?
The expectation going into this season with the Canucks tight up against the salary cap was that at some point a big trade would be made, with most thinking it would be to bolster the blue-line.
But while the Canucks are close to their record from last season, the stuttering start to the season has fans frustrated and the rumour mill working overtime.
“One of the things Adams (Buffalo GM) has talked about is making a move that doesn’t make his team worse… Petterson, to me, makes them better.”
While rumours of big-name trades have been a thing since the NHL began, this particular one seems born in some high school drama. Do J.T. Miller and Pettersson dislike each other so much that it’s souring the whole team? That’s the tack that started social media smoking this week.
And it doesn’t help that in the Wednesday night game against the Utah Hockey Club, Miller and Pettersson never took a shift together on the power play.
This has the NHL world weighing in on what’s ahead. Here’s what the rest of the league is saying about the Canucks this week.
Don’t let the inmates don’t run the asylum
“I would bring both principle parties, both players into my office with the coach and I would have them air it all out. Hear from one guy, hear from the other. One guy is your No. 1 centre, the other guy is your No. 2 centre. One guy is 26 the other guy is 32. Let’s have it out guys. What are your issues. I would hear them out…hear them both squawk at each other. And when they are done, I would say: Are you finished? Good. Now go do your $%@#^& job.
“This organization isn’t trading either one of you….
“To me the notion that if they can’t get along one of them gets traded is a terrible, terrible strategy because the only thing that comes from that is losing. I’ve learned in this business, if you trade players because you are mad at them you’ll trade yourself right down to the bottom of the league… Everyone’s got problems, two ways to deal with them: you either get rid of them or you solve them. It’s always better to solve your problem.
Is a trade imminent?
“League sources confirm that the Canucks are on the lookout for a top-four defenceman as well as a winger. And in keeping with Rutherford tradition, I would imagine GM Patrik Allvin would want to make a trade sooner than later and not wait until the March 7 deadline. He acquired Elias Lindholm on Jan. 31 last season, very much keeping with the Rutherford-esque style to get ahead of the deadline.
“Filip Hronek’s injury has been difficult to overcome, so that has fuelled the need to trade for a top-four D. Easier said than done, but I don’t think Vancouver will wait too long if it can find a fit.”
Trading for a puck-moving defenceman
Frank Seravalli on the DailyFace Off: “ I’m told the Canucks feel they have made some progress in their search for an impact defenceman and an efficient puck-mover. And there seems to be a heightened sense of urgency in the last 24-48 hours as to whether or not they may be able to get something done before the NHL trade freeze kicks in at midnight on Thursday.”
Options on the table
“There have been some wild trade rumours involving the Canucks of late, including star centre Elias Pettersson and veteran J.T. Miller. We don’t think for a second that either Pettersson or Miller will be moved.
However, Vancouver still could make a move of note, with Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting the Canucks are looking for a defenceman while Hronek is injured. Perhaps that means bringing in veteran defenceman Ivan Provorov from the Columbus Blue Jackets, which Rick Dhaliwal also suggested.
Another move involving a D-man could be a trade that sends Vincent Desharnais out of town, as Desharnais has proven to be a poor fit since signing with Vancouver last summer.
The Canucks are also reportedly still in the hunt for a winger, but their cap situation has them with only $1.91 million in cap space. That means any trade is almost assuredly going to be a money-in, money-out type of deal. But as the Canucks fight to rise to the top of the Pacific Division, they’ve got plenty of motivation to swing a swap to improve the overall quality of their lineup. ”
“It is no secret the Canucks are looking for a young, puck-moving defenceman. Outside of Quinn Hughes, the Canucks struggle in transition. They struggle to defend the rush, and in moving the puck up ice from the back end.
Meaningful talks between Brock Boeser’s camp and the Canucks have not made much progress, and Boeser is likely looking for a contract worth $8 million per year, coming off a 40-goal season. The reality of the NHL is that wingers, especially on expiring deals, do not garner the trade return that fans believe they are worth.
So what are the options?
The Canucks have had interest in Bowen Byram dating back a few seasons, and it isn’t a secret the something has to give in Buffalo. Byram has taken a step forward with the Sabres, playing top-four minutes and filling in on the power play in Rasmus Dahlin’s absence. He would be a good option for the Canucks’ second power-play unit.
K’Andre Miller’s name has been floating around recently, and he is another player in whom the Canucks would have interest. Rick Tocchet likes big defencemen, and the Canucks have their own forest with all the trees on the back end. Miller will be 25 in January, and the 6-foot-5 blue-liner is a pending RFA with arbitration rights.”
OK, so Boeser could be on the move as well. Doerrie does address the Pettersson rumours, and with suggested returns:
“Let’s make something very clear: I think this is a very bad idea and would not do it. But let’s ponder what the Canucks could get in return for a player of Pettersson’s calibre, if Vancouver wanted to solve the rumoured rift between Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
Pettersson is an elite player in the NHL who is under contract through 2031-32, with an annual cap hit of $11.6 million. His no-trade clause does not kick in until this coming July, meaning the Canucks can trade him without his approval (hello, PK Subban).
As noted above, Byram is a young, puck-moving defenceman who would likely become the Canucks’ second-best blueliner upon arrival. Alex Tuch is another player the Canucks would have interest in because he brings speed, size and skill at a very reasonable price. However, Tuch is a Western New York native, and the Sabres do not seem keen to move him.
The player of interest instead is Dylan Cozens, a 23-year-old, right-handed centre with five years remaining on his current contract at an annual cap hit of $7.1 million. The cap numbers could work out as a wash, too; Byram needs a new contract this summer, and it is likely that he and Cozens would combine for a number in the neighbourhood of Pettersson’s $11.6 million per year.
If the Canucks were to trade Pettersson — and again, let me be clear in saying I do not think they should! — acquiring a second-line centre and top-four defenceman (both 23 years old) would be a fair return.”
The Power Rankings and a pacifier
“Some of this can probably be chalked up to regular-season malaise, but Tocchet felt compelled to call it out months before the playoffs. The West is intense. As the coach said, “You have to be jacked up to play the game. You have to be emotionally in the game.”
“The Canucks’ remarkable road resumé (10-2-2) is translating into an equally outstanding record as the straight-up favourite. They’ve lost only twice when backed by sportsbooks to win in 10 tries, including a narrow 3-2 defeat in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night.”
Despite Thatcher Demko’s play, Canucks lose OT thriller in Utah
1. With the exception of the fourth goal Saturday against the Boston Bruins, in which Demko looked to be chasing and it cost him when a bad bounce went against him, the Canucks’ starter has been excellent in his four games since returning from a knee injury.
2. With his size, unique profile and ability to disrupt the opposition’s breakout on the forecheck, Dakota Joshua is such an X-factor for the Canucks when he’s on.
3. Take Utah seriously.
Sherwood scores 1st NHL hat trick, Canucks defeat Avalanche
“I was just trying to take it in, having the whole arena (chanting is) something you dream of as a kid,” he said. “Those are the kind of moments that you work for and just kind of manifest and visualize, so I’m really thankful and grateful for them.”
Canucks demolished by Bruins as baffling home struggles continue: 3 take-aways
Thomas Drance for The Athletic: “The Boston Bruins showed up in Vancouver this week reeling from two consecutive lopsided losses and in need of a win to break their losing skid.