Vancouver Canucks more likely to trade Miller than Pettersson: report
The Vancouver Canucks reportedly have a preference when it comes to their two centres who have been mired in trade talks this season.
The team has been considering trade offers for both Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller as a solution to a reported rift between the two players. While Miller has a no-movement clause, making any potential deal harder to get over the line, the team would still rather give him up over the 26-year-old.
“There’s a sense league-wide that J.T. Miller is the more likely to be moved,” said TSN’s Chris Johnston on Insider Trading.
While the difference in trade protection may make a Miller deal more difficult to execute, it’s not hard to see why the Canucks would rather hold on to Pettersson. The Swedish centre is five years younger, already has a 100-point season under his belt, and blows Miller’s results at the same age out of the water.
Pettersson hasn’t played up to his lofty standards over the past year, but if the Canucks believe he can find his game again, they would be foolish to trade him. When at his peak, Pettersson belongs to a rare class of players. If they trade him, the Canucks could spend decades looking for another similar talent.
The Miller-Pettersson situation hasn’t just been a story in Vancouver; it’s captivated fans and reporters across the country. Everyone is aware of the unique fact the Canucks have two incredible assets on the trade block, and many teams are reportedly waiting to see what happens before moving on to other business.
“We might not see much action otherwise league-wide until something happens here with Vancouver because this is such a big domino that’s out there,” continued Johnston.
The noise around the Canucks has died down a bit over the past few weeks. They finally have most of their roster back from injury, and the hope is that will lead to better results on the ice. If they can start to pick up wins, the Miller-Pettersson drama will surely resolve itself. If not, they may need to pull the trigger on a deal.