Canucks president confirms rift between forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson

The Vancouver Canucks’ president of hockey operations says he would not see a method ahead for the present roster amid an ongoing rift between two of its high stars.

Jim Rutherford addressed a long-rumoured spat between centres J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson in an interview with The Globe and Mail revealed Tuesday.

“I felt like for a very long time that there was an answer right here as a result of all people has labored on it, together with the events concerned,” he mentioned.

“Nevertheless it solely will get resolved for a brief time period after which it festers once more and so it actually seems like there’s not a superb resolution that may maintain this group collectively.”

The story doesn’t element what the problem is between the 2 gamers, however Rutherford mentioned the drama has impacted the whole Canucks squad.

Vancouver completed final season atop the Pacific Division earlier than being eradicated from the playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers in Recreation 7 of a gritty second-round sequence.

This season, the Canucks (22-17-10) have struggled to string wins, and even stable intervals, collectively. The staff sits one level under the Calgary Flames, who maintain the Western Convention’s second wild card spot.

“When you do not have chemistry, it is arduous to be that constant staff as a result of there’s an excessive amount of happening within the room for everyone to focus on what they’re speculated to do,” Rutherford instructed The Globe and Mail.

Gamers off final season’s scoring tempo

Each Miller and Pettersson have lacked their regular offensive prowess this 12 months.

After placing up a career-high 103 factors within the 2023-24 marketing campaign, Miller has amassed 9 targets and 34 factors in 39 video games.

The 31-year-old American missed 10 video games in November and early December after stepping away from the staff for private causes.

Expectations for Pettersson had been excessive this fall after he signed an eight-year, $92.8-million US contract final March.

The 26-year-old Swedish centre missed six video games in late December and early January as he handled an undisclosed damage. He has 11 targets and 31 factors in 43 appearances.

Commerce speak has swirled round each gamers in latest weeks.

Rutherford acknowledged crafting a deal involving both participant forward of the league’s March 7 commerce deadline might be troublesome as a result of Vancouver is unlikely to get a participant of the identical calibre in return.

If the Canucks do decide to make a transfer, they will have to get one other centre in return, plus “additional issues” that may very well be used sooner or later, the president mentioned.

“We’ll must do the very best we will in trades,” Rutherford mentioned. “No matter belongings you get in return; it’s possible you’ll flip them into one thing else. And now we have to work our method again into being a contending staff.”