Canucks’ Rutherford admits there’s ‘no good solution’ in keeping J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson
If there was any doubt whether a rift truly exists between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford has confirmed any lingering suspicions.
“I felt like for a long time that there was a solution here because everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved,” Rutherford told Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail. “But it only gets resolved for a short period of time and then it festers again and so it certainly appears like there’s not a good solution that would keep this group together.
“We’ve had those conversations and I think the parties understand that and I think they’ve tried. As you know, sometimes emotions get deep and as much as people try sometimes you can’t get over it. It certainly appears that’s what’s going on here.”
After seeing a 26-point improvement a year ago that vaulted the Canucks to a Pacific Division title, the club has been mired by trade speculation and reports of a locker room rift for much of the 2024-25 campaign. How much of an effect it has had on the team is to be determined, but in the interim the Canucks have tumbled outside of the playoff picture in the Western Conference despite the dominant performance offered up by defenseman and second-year captain Quinn Hughes whose 56 points are outpaced by only 12 players league-wide.
“We’re talking about two of our top players,” Rutherford added. “Certainly, our two best forwards. It can really be tough on a franchise – not only present but into the future – when you’re planning on peaking this team into a contending team and then you find out that’s not going to happen. Or at least it’s not going to happen with the group we have now. Then you have to put together a new plan.”
In recent weeks, the Canucks appeared close to a deal to move Miller, with Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting that Vancouver was ready and willing to trade the 31-year-old forward, potentially to the New York Rangers. On the same day, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin acknowledged that Pettersson has struggled this season, who now through 43 appearances has collected 31 points after combining for 191 points over the past two campaigns.
Should the Canucks look to deal either player – or both – their respective contracts won’t make a move easy. For Miller, he carries a no-movement clause plus an $8-million annual average value through 2029-30 that could hinder the Canucks’ ability to move him to many different suitors. Meanwhile, for Petterson, combined with his offensive struggles this season, the Swedish-born forward is in the first year of an eight-year pact that carries an $11.6-million annual average value, the fifth-highest salary cap hit league-wide, as well as a full no-movement clause that begins July 1.