Former players like Gadzic and Richardson, and Canucks management/coaches, seems to love the way Miller conduct himself and talk glowingly about it. I think it's a hockey culture thing, where yelling at each other, "showing emotions", etc are looked upon as great leadership and is how you hold guys accountable. I mean we had psychos like Keenan and Babcock coaching not too long ago, and some pretty shady characters like Messier and Toews hailed as some of the greatest leaders. While society came a long way with dealing with each other on a human level, I don't think hockey has kept up. This all bodes well for guys like JT but bad for players like Petey. If you are a skilled player but not one of those old school temperament, you really need the mental fortitude of the Sedins to survive in this culture.
That's the whole thing though. Hockey is not like society. It's an archaic construct that follows it's own made up rules as part of a game. It's a dangerous sport that requires a mental and outward shield to protect you out there. In order to get to the next level you need players who are willing to do to the tough things like get excited, get angry at the opposition, get serious with their own players, drag others into the fight. It's more like a war out there than society to be honest. Not everyone can be like Sakic and Tanev out there skating around cool as a cucumber. So yeah hockey definitely doesn't reflect much at all in the way of civil mental growth. It's not supposed to. We'll be left with old timers hockey if that happens.
Personally I have no problem at all with that and prefer players like that. With Miller I have no problem with him being emotional and gruff. It's the quitting on plays continually, lack of effort, defensive lapses, crossing the line with negativity towards teammates, and not playing a team game that irks me about him. Great player, when focused a top 10 type guy. On the downside a cancer in the room and on the ice.
I don't really think you have to be some special player to survive in that culture. Most NHLers have no problems with it.
I can see why Petey is isolated in the locker room and in the organization. I still think Petey has elite talent but more and more I think he needs a perfect environment (for him) to reach that level, and unfortunately it doesn't look like it is here, unless there are massive organizational changes.
I still think people are missing the big picture here. Petey was just fine for large periods here without perfect environments. Obviously it was not a problem then. People need to understand that players performance is not linear and give them a chance to work it out. I have a real hard time believing a guy who finished 19th and 10th the last two seasons while averaging 96 points (ppg in career with Miller as a teammate) is washed up or suddenly can't play hockey in the same environment. It does not compute. It seems like this issue is taking on a life of it's own around here that's not even accurate.
Canucks interested in Noah Dobson.
Said they also like Danny Nelson.
I would love to have a younger Brock Nelson on this team. I've thought he's exactly the type of piece we need. Large bodied sniper who delivers. Unfortunately he's getting a little long in the tooth now. This trade is a complete pipe dream though. No way we can fit a $10 mil cap hit on defence moving forward.
