Photo credit: Bob Frid – Imagn Images.
Former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet recently opened up about the drama surrounding J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson during the 2024-25 season.
As much as the 2025-26 campaign has been a tough one for the Vancouver Canucks so far, the 2024-25 season is one that fans are still trying to put in the rearview mirror after missing out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and drama both on and off the ice.
Ultimately, the club stood behind Elias Pettersson and opted to trade J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers, a decision that fans are still questioning to this day and over the weekend, former Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet opened up about the drama & feud between the two last season.
Former Vancouver Canucks HC Rick Tocchet opens up about J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson drama
According to Tocchet, the situation was always brewing between the two forwards, but doesn’t know if anything could’ve changed if the coaching staff and the management group got to it quicker than they did.
“Could we get to the issue a little bit quicker? It was always brewing, but it was never a force. It wasn’t a 10 blazer. Could we have got so we got the fire trucks a little bit quicker to the flames? Maybe. I don’t know.” Tocchet said.
It’s still a bit too early to fully evaluate the J.T. Miller trade, especially with his struggles in The Big Apple this season and that Filip Chytil is sidelined with an injury & Victor Mancini is in the American Hockey League, but if both sides had the opportunity to do it over again, it’s very likely that they wouldn’t do it, more so from New York’s perspective as some aren’t happy with how the 32-year-old has played since he was named captain in September.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
POLL
2 HOURS AGOÂ Â Â |Â Â Â 196 ANSWERS
Ex-Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet re-opens the J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson drama
Do you think the Vancouver Canucks made a mistake by trading J.T. Miller over Elias Pettersson?