Canucks Confirm Unfixable Rift: Pettersson, Miller Trade Coming

There is undoubtedly a trade coming for the Vancouver Canucks. Now that President Jim Rutherford has confirmed there is a rift between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, and one that doesn’t appear fixable, he hinted that he’s going to need to make a deal because there’s no “good solution”.

It’s not clear what Rutherford is working on or if he’s willing to take a bad deal to address the issues, but this is no longer a story about speculation. This beef is real and the Canucks are looking to squash it by trading someone.

In an interview with The Globe and Mail’s Gary Mason, Rutherford acknowledged the situation as “untenable” and admitted that a clear path forward remains elusive.

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In the article, Mason writes:

“Everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved. But it only gets resolved for a short period of time and then it festers again. So it certainly appears like there’s not a good solution that would keep this group together.”

What’s The Issue Between Miller and Pettersson?

Leadership style differences, particularly between Miller and Pettersson, have reportedly been a source of friction within the locker room for some time. Miller is fiery, while Pettersson is more composed. Their respective approaches have clashed, creating a serious division among teammates.

What’s incredible is that it sounds like the Canucks have managed this for some time. And, drama in the organization isn’t new.

There was drama between Mark Messier and Trevor Linden back in the 1990s and many compared this to that situation. Why the Canucks continue to have these problems isn’t clear, but Rutherford’s interview suggests they have no way to fix things as is.

The Canucks Are Going to Get Fleeced in a Trade

No Way They Can Win a Pettersson or Miller Trade

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, speculation will likely intensify over whether the Canucks might consider a significant shakeup to resolve the ongoing discord. Whether try trade one player or both remains to be seen. What seems clear is that the organization is going to lose whatever trade they make.

The Canucks tried to deny this rift for weeks. That Rutherford is now coming out and publicly talking about it means he;’s come to terms with the fact he’s got to do something. Interested teams now have the leverage because they know the Canucks have to make a move.

It will be intriguing to see what approach Rutherford an GM Patrik Allvin take. Do they trade both and wash their hands of two problem players? That could trigger a rebuild. Or, do they trade one and hope that the division in the locker room goes away when one of the forwards are gone?

Next: NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup: Canucks, Oilers & Capitals