Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson finally spills the truth on the Drama with J.T. Miller
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson opened up recently on the reported feud between him and former teammate J.T. Miller.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, one of the biggest stories off the ice in the National Hockey League was the reported feud in Vancouver between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
The feud grew to a point where there was no path forward for both to remain with the Canucks and ultimately, Patrik Allvin traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers in exchange for a first-round pick, Victor Mancini and Filip Chytil.
Elias Pettersson opens up on reported feud with J.T. Miller
On Friday, the Vancouver Canucks had their locker clean-out day and players met with the media for their season-ending media availability and as expected, the feud was asked about.
Elias Pettersson was asked if it was difficult to play due to the rumors swirling about that feud and he admitted it was, adding that whether the team won or lost, it was always a talking point.
He went on to share that himself and Miller respected each other as teammates, even though they might not have been the best of friends.
"I think it was something that neither of us could prepare for, the way it blew up. Like that was the focal point if we won or lost, it was between us. Yeah, maybe we weren't the best of friends, but we respected each other as teammates and yeah, that's what I'll say." Pettersson said.
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was also asked about the feud when meeting with the media on Friday and he said that the situation got to the point where it was uncomfortable and it needed to be resolved via trade.
"We had a really good year the year before and they had really good years. So you never think it's, the smouldering is going to turn up. Did it get uncomfortable? Yeah. A lot of meetings, a lot of things. Could've something been different? You know, I hear people on the sidelines 'If I was coaching or I was...they've got to go to dinner and they've got to fight it out'. I mean, you don't think we've tried all that stuff? It just didn't work out. I know everybody is looking for a bad guy. I don't think there was a bad guy in the thing. It just didn't work out. At that point, it needed to be resolved and like Jim said, that's what happened. It's unfortunate because would I not want J.T. Miller in my lineup? 100 percent. But at that time, it just could not work." Tocchet said.
With the feud now in the past, hopefully Elias Pettersson will be able to turn the page on this chapter and have a great summer training and preparing for the 2025-26 season, which the Canucks hope will be a big bounce back year for the Sundsvall, Sweden native.
TRENDING NOW
