“Sometimes emotions get deep,” Canucks trade J.T. Miller to Rangers amidst ‘festering’ relationship with Elias Pettersson, fans react

The Rangers will be reuniting with J.T. Miller following blockbuster trade deal with Canucks amidst 2024-25 season games.

“Sometimes emotions get deep,” Canucks trade J.T. Miller to Rangers amidst ‘festering’ relationship with Elias Pettersson, fans react

J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson [Image Credit: Victoria Buzz/The New York Times]

J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson‘s feud finally gets a stopping point with Vancouver Canucks trading their alternate captain to the New York Rangers. The Rangers will be reuniting with their 2011 1st-round draft pick where he debuted back in 2013.

Along with Miller, the Canucks are also sending defenseman Erik Brannstrom and prospect Jackson Dorrington. In return, the Rangers are sending center Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini, and a protected 2025 1st-round pick, as per several NHL sources.

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Talks about J.T. Miller’s trade have been going on for a long while. His drifting relationship with forward Elias Pettersson is seen as the main reason for the trade. While details on their strained relationship have not been revealed, Miller once said that it was something the media created.

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Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford commented on the feud stating that they’ve tried everything to keep the group together but failed. He added that “sometimes emotions get deep,” and people “can’t get over it.”

I felt like for a long time that there was a solution here because everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved. 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.

Jim Rutherford as per Chris Cerullo of RMNB.com.

Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller were also involved in several separate trade rumors over the weeks including discussions with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, the Hurricanes got involved with Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall trades with Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, hindering Canucks trade talks.

Jim Rutherford said that it’s better to keep them separated if “you don’t have chemistry” within the locker room. Not only were the tensions flaring with given time the players were also being distracted from what they were supposed to focus on.

NHL world reacts to J.T. Miller’s trade from Canucks to Rangers

J.T. Miller had a full no-move clause on his contract with the Vancouver Canucks until he nullified it to make this recent trade possible. He was also scratched from the lineup during their game against the Edmonton Oilers as a potential trade talk was going on with the NY Rangers. 

JT Miller
JT Miller [Image Credit: Elite Prospects]

One X user commented, “Massive L for the Cancuks,” while another noted, “Canucks trading the wrong player.” Check out more fan reactions below:

In 2023-24, Miller recorded 103 points with 37 goals and 66 assists in 81 regular season games. It was his sixth season with the Canucks after his trade by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019.