Can NHL Teams Afford to Let the Inmates Run the Asylum?

The rumored rift between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller has taken over the Canucks. The Rangers are having issues too. What can other NHL teams learn from this?

NHL franchises should closely watch what is happening in Vancouver and take notes. A storyline that no one knows to even be true, the narrative that two players dislike each other to the point they can’t work together, has bled over into the team’s on-ice performance. As the problems grow and the NHL season approaches its midpoint, the Canucks have gone from a solid bet as a postseason contender to a team teetering on the edge of playoff contention.

With a 17-10-7 record and 41 points through 34 games, they’re holding onto the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. However, the questions surrounding rumored turmoil inside the locker room looms large—can they hold their position, or will things unravel and their postseason aspirations go down the drain?

The drama stems from reports of tension between the team’s top stars, J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. While both players have denied any issues, persistent rumors suggest otherwise. The Canucks are at a point now where they resolve this rift (even if there isn’t actually a rift) to get the noise to quiet down.

The Rumors Have Gotten Out Of Hand

The report's timing that Miller and Pettersson can’t get along couldn’t be worse. The Canucks’ defensive struggles have compounded the problems and given life to the narrative. Not only did the Canucks’ not address the speculation head-on and squash the rumors, but they’re also losing games, and neither player is playing their best hockey. This makes the Pettersson-Miller situation all the more urgent.

Vancouver can’t afford distractions if they hope to tighten up defensively and compete for a playoff spot. Coach Rick Tocchet has emphasized professionalism, stating, “You don’t have to play PlayStation together or go to dinner. But you’re working toward the same goal.”

This story has moved well beyond issues of these two players gaming together. The talk has gotten so loud that the storyline is these two players can’t even be on the ice together and be successful. Chatter has bled into both player’s performances.

Leadership Under Scrutiny

The relationship between Pettersson and Miller has long been a topic of interest. While analysts believed last year’s strong season put tensions to rest, recent events suggest otherwise.