The next few weeks could shape the Vancouver Canucks franchise for years to come.
A reported feud between stars J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson has become such a distraction the team is reportedly seriously considering trading one as a solution.
This situation seemed impossible last season when the atmosphere around the team was incredibly positive. But this is where the Canucks find themselves now, seemingly needing to pick between Miller or Pettersson to move forward.
On paper, the easiest step is to move Pettersson. That’s because his trade protection doesn’t kick in until next season, while Miller already has a full no-movement clause in action. Trading Pettersson would also free up more cap space as he costs $11.6 million against the cap, nearly $4 million more than Miller’s $8 million cap hit, allowing the team to address the defence as well.
It’s been nearly a full calendar year since Pettersson has played to his full potential, and he has 28 points in 34 games this season. This may be the last chance for the Canucks to get out of that contract before his value drops even further, and if they believe he won’t ever be the same player he once was, they must act now.
Miller has also shown an ability to raise his game when it matters most. He tied for the team lead with 12 points in 13 games during last year’s playoffs, while Pettersson had just one goal and six points in the same number of contests.
The Swedish centre would also bring back a larger haul as his value is certainly higher.
While all of those factors may make trading Pettersson seem like the logical way forward, that is far from the only choice. The validity of both pathways is what makes this such a tricky situation for the Canucks, and keeping Pettersson while trading Miller also has many positives.
To start, Pettersson is five years younger, at 26, and already has a 100-point season under his belt. Miller’s career high at the same age was just 72 points.
Even when he’s not scoring, Pettersson is among the best defensive centres in the league and consistently drives play. While Miller often gets to play with Brock Boeser, a strong two-way winger, Pettersson has carried a variety of middling players throughout the years and still managed to put up strong results.
Despite a rough 12 months, it still makes the most sense for the Canucks to commit to Pettersson. It’s extremely rare to find players with his profile, and that’s why there are reports that other teams aren’t sure the Canucks are serious about dealing him.
Of course, the team could send a message by trading both players, bringing in multiple fresh faces to complement captain Quinn Hughes. That seems unlikely, as it would involve pulling off two massive transactions, but you can never say never with this management group.
If the situation is truly irreparable, the Canucks will need to shake things up and commit to one of either Miller or Pettersson. While the past year may have made it more difficult, there shouldn’t be much hesitation in picking the younger, more proficient player.