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Elias Pettersson Comments on the JT Miller Trade After Months of Controversy

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Daniel Lucente
February 1, 2025  (10:36)
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Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson seen during an interview
Photo credit: NHL.com video screenshot

Elias Pettersson has finally broken his silence on the JT Miller trade saga now that the deal has finally been made, and he did not mince words.

A J.T. Miller trade by the Vancouver Canucks felt inevitable, yet somehow it didn't make it any less surprising once the deal finally went down in the hour prior to puck drop in Dallas.

The situation between Elias Pettersson and Miller has been subject to a great deal of speculation nationally over the past few weeks, with tensions reportedly becoming so strained that president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford addressed the situation publicly.

He admitted there was no feasible way to keep the group together. Asked about Rutherford's comments, Pettersson declined to comment further, instead opting to reflect on the good times he and Miller shared as teammates.

"It just happened when we got to the rink," said Elias Pettersson after Friday's game, calling the loss of Miller "a big blow."

"We lose a skillful power forward - I mean, his play speaks for itself," added Pettersson. "All we can do now is look forward and wish him the best.»

"I think we've had some really good moments," said Pettersson. "The playoffs in my second year and then the playoffs last year. He's just a player that I think both of us made each other better.»

With Miller gone, a lot more onus will fall on Pettersson. As the team's top center, he'll be tasked with justifying his $11.6-million cap hit and leading the team forward, on the ice anyway. He admits feeling the extra pressure.

«Yeah, of course," said Pettersson. "But then, on the other side, I want that pressure. It's up to me to take it.»

Veteran defenceman Tyler Myers said it's tough to see a teammate moved, but hopefully, the team can move on without off-ice distractions.

"We've been together for five-and-a-half years here and he's been such a big part of the room. It's always a weird feeling. I didn't get to see him, it happened so fast before the game," said Myers, later adding, "He held so much weight in the room, probably the most I've seen on any team I've been on."

"There was an incredible amount of unnecessary noise around all this stuff the last month or two," said Myers. "In a lot of ways, I'm glad. It's a fresh start for both sides in terms of the noise. You always want to look forward and I wish Millsy all the best; we'll talk a bunch.»

The Canucks will need to put all of this off-ice drama behind them as quickly as possible to avoid falling too far out of the playoff race.


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Elias Pettersson Comments on the JT Miller Trade After Months of Controversy

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