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Rangers' J.T Miller Trade Didn't Fix Canucks' Internal Issues: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Feb 4, 2025 6:30 AM ET

The Vancouver Canucks traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers in an effort to resolve locker-room tensions.

According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, however, the move has not been well received by many players and the problems within the Canucks locker room are far from over.

"A lot of players in Vancouver are very upset about the Miller trade, and that this wasn’t the move they wanted," Seravalli said on SN960 on Friday, following Miller's trade to the Rangers.

Miller’s departure was expected to end the internal issues coming from his long-standing rift with Elias Pettersson, a conflict that Canucks president Jim Rutherford had acknowledged as one having "no good solution."

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes expressed his disappointment over the Miller trade.

"You know, to see him go, he’s a heck of a hockey player and I enjoyed playing with him for the six I had," Hughes said following the move and after Vancover lost 5-4 to the Dallas Stars on Friday. "Obviously wish him the best.

"Right now, it doesn’t even really seem real, but next couple weeks, I’m sure it will sink in a little bit."

Pettersson, who is now expected to lead the team at least among the forwards currently rostered by the franchise, kept his comments brief.

“Big blow, we lost JT. It just happened when we got to the rink,” Pettersson said. “We lose a skillful, power forward. I mean, his play, it speaks for itself. All we can do now is look forward and wish him the best.”

General manager Patrik Allvin made it clear that Pettersson is now under heightened expectations.

"My expectation is higher on him than anyone else on our team, and I expect him to meet my expectation, and I expect him to meet his own expectation," Allvin said. "So far, he has not done that. If you talk to him, he’s disappointed. But he’s aware of it, and I know that he’s capable and that he will work at it.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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