Rutherford: No ‘good solution’ on J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson rift for Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford has misplaced religion in his means to fix the strained relationship between star forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.

Rutherford advised Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason that makes an attempt to restore the connection have solely confirmed to achieve success within the brief time period. 

“…And 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,” Rutherford mentioned. “However it solely will get resolved for a brief time period after which it festers once more and so it definitely seems like there’s not a great resolution that might maintain this group collectively.”

Commerce rumours have surrounded the Canucks, with the rift showing to affect their on-ice outcomes. The crew is presently sitting exterior the playoff image within the Western Convention. Vancouver, one level again of the Calgary Flames for the ultimate wild-card spot with a 22-17-10 document, received consecutive video games for the primary time since Dec. 1 with a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday.

It has been a big drop-off for the franchise after beginning the marketing campaign 13-7-3 after ending first within the Western Convention final season with a 50-23-9 document. 

Rutherford admits the long-term outlook for the crew is prone to be impacted because the crew explores commerce choices involving each Miller and Pettersson. 

“We’re speaking about two of our high gamers,” Rutherford mentioned. “Definitely, our two finest forwards. It could actually actually be powerful on a franchise – not solely current however into the long run – once you’re planning on peaking this crew right into a contending crew and you then discover out that’s not going to occur. Or no less than it’s not going to occur with the group we now have now.

“Then you must put collectively a brand new plan.”

“We’ll should do the very best we are able to in trades”

If the Canucks are to deal both Miller or Pettersson, the crew might be parting a top-six centre. Changing that piece instantly is unlikely, that means one transfer might result in one other because the Canucks look to struggle for a playoff spot this season and past. 

“We’ll should do the very best we are able to in trades,” Rutherford mentioned. “No matter property you get in return, chances are you’ll flip them into one thing else. And we now have to work our method again into being a contending crew.”

The Canucks had been reportedly shut on a deal to ship Miller to the New York Rangers earlier this month, however that commerce by no means got here to fruition.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun mentioned final week on Insider Buying and selling {that a} commerce stays the almost certainly end result to resolve the rift in Vancouver, however there is no clear timeline for a deal. LeBrun pointed to the Carolina Hurricanes among the many potential suitors for Miller earlier than the crew swung a three-team blockbuster deal to land Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche and Taylor Corridor from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

“A few issues which can be necessary to notice,” LeBrun defined. “One is that Miller hasn’t given the Canucks an inventory of groups that he would waive for, though in these conversations between his camp and the Canucks, there is a sense of the final parameters of the form of crew that might make sense. And sure, there are different groups aside from the Rangers which have been in talks with the Vancouver Canucks.

“…The New Jersey Devils, the Rangers’ rivals – they’ve additionally been a late entrant on this they usually have held talks with the Canucks and J.T. Miller. I additionally assume that internally, the Devils are attempting to type of suss out if it is smart to go all-in on this or not at this level and the place they’re. The Dallas Stars, with all that cap cash that they will spend with Tyler Seguin on the shelf. That is a crew that lots of people imagine J.T. Miller would possibly watch for. Will they make a pitch? So, there are different groups concerned.

“However, one factor the Canucks have type of modified their tune from when this began six or seven weeks in the past – with talks on J.T. Miller – the Canucks mentioned, we want apples for apples. We’re making an attempt to make the playoffs right here. We do not wish to do a futures deal. The Canucks have relented a bit on that. They’d do a futures deal relating to making a cope with a contender, like a Carolina or a New Jersey, as a result of they perceive these groups do not wish to commerce away from their core. So, nonetheless to play out right here. However the Canucks are telling groups ‘we’re not giving this man away’. We’ll see the place it goes.”

Miller, 31, has 9 objectives and 34 factors in 39 video games with the Canucks this season, having missed time as a consequence of a private go away of absence earlier within the marketing campaign.

Pettersson, 26, has 11 objectives and 31 factors in 41 video games this season after posting 89 factors final season and 102 factors in 2022-23. He’s the Canucks’ highest-paid participant, carrying a cap hit of $11.6 million by way of 2031-32. 

Miller is the crew’s second-highest paid participant at a cap hit of $8 million and is signed by way of 2029-30 with a full no-move clause.