"IF"....

[tanti9]

I have and will always be a die hard Canuck fan and rarely listen to media when they speculate about things without hard evidence. I have always believed that there is not a problem with having Petey and JT together on the same team as they both signed long term deals knowing the other individual was always going to be on the team. I WANT both players to succed here in Vancouver but lately am having trouble seeing it. When JT was away, Elias picked up his play but has regressed since JT's return. I still believed they could co-exist up until last nights game vs Utah. The game before, JT was taken off PP1 and versus Utah Petey was taken of the first unit. Why?? I have no idea, maybe to see who is more capable of running PP1? I do not have an answer but am tired of all the "outside noise" and am tired of games the Canucks start with no energy.

IF you had to choose between either Pettersson or Miller, which one and why? Pettersson is younger and has more upside but can be moody and easily loses his confidence. Miller is a very emotional player who plays a power forward type of game but can be abrasive to his teammates eg. yelling and slamming his stick to get Collin Delia out of the net lol.

Both players could get some nice pieces back but I do not think you can replace Petterssons skill, because when he is at his apex he is a top 10 forward in the league. I love Miller but, idk.

IF you had to choose to move, who would it be and why?

I personally do not want to trade either but something is wrong in that dressing room I believe and now I turn off the game at times after 10 minutes in because the Nucks have no energy. I also believe there are some trade partners out there that a major deal can be made!! At least that will be more exciting than the product on the ice at times this year.

Click to read more...

 

[Bobby9]

Trade EP and his nightmare contract for a young C and assets.

His skill is only showcased for part the year. He is a overpaid RNH.

 

[Peen]

I try not to be reactionary but totally agree - this whole splitting the PP unit thing is so weird man.

If I have to pick, I’m going with the younger player who’s shown a higher ceiling.

If I’m management, I’m doing whatever QH says.

 

[Bgav]

Trade Miller, aging player whose contract will get worse as time goes on. Value will never be higher.

 

[Baby Pettersson]

Miller is the obvious answer. But I refuse to believe this is actually happening. Even though it's the most likely scenario at this point ...

 

[PavelBure10]

That is a tough call.

One player has all of the talent in the world but for whatever reason doesn't look like the same 100 point player. We don't know if Pettersson is still hurt or lost his speed and incredible shot from past injuries. If the Canucks were guaranteed that Pettersson would come back from whatever was/is ailing him then I would chose Pettersson no question. Due to his age, incredible skills and potential assets received in a trade return.

Miller is a character of his own. Has the most character on the team and the most heart. Not sure if his heart gets the better of him and he becomes a aggressive dick in the locker room or what, but you can't question his will to win. The aggressive way Miller plays is a asset to have, especially in the playoffs. I do worry though about his age, Miller turns 32 in a couple of months and who knows if he can keep up with the aggressive style he plays.

If I had to trade one "which I would prefer to keep both because it's almost impossible to have one 100 point ceterman, let alone two", I would probably trade Miller. Petterssons age and skillset are hard to come by, and trading Petey will most likely come back to bite you in the ass.

In all honesty I just want to win with the two 100 point centers we have. Just wish they could get their shit together and work as a team.

 

[supercanuck]

I would trade Miller simply because I think EP will be the better player through their contracts who is also younger. Tocc I assume would 100% choose JT.

I actually trust management to make the "best" decision here. They have or should have the inside scoop on what is going on with EP/JT's mental and physical health, and I believe that they will make the decision that they think maximizes the overall benefit to the team.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

This is a discussion forum, so I'll enter my two cents although I feel there's paths forward for these two to coexist, and this team is best with these two on it being their best selves.

That said, if I had to choose between these two, I go Pettersson. You take the younger player you just signed to a franchise deal and build around him. I love JT Miller and love his game, but you have a chance for longer, sustained success with the younger player. And when Petey is on, he's an excellent two-way center and play driver.

That said, who do I think the Canucks choose in this scenario? That's tougher. I think Miller is more of a "Tocchet guy". And I don't know if that plays at all into how Petey has performed over the last year or not.

 

[credulous]

you choose pettersson. this stuff has followed miller his entire career. there was a period where you could believe he'd aged out of it but it's apparently not the case. moving pettersson just means a new problem with a new player before long

 

[Chiripa20]

No hesitation, Petey is gone asap. I trust our mgt to get a good package/player for him at this point. He is a head case and absolutely for sure, can not and or will not play through both the physical and as importantly mental rigors/challenges of a long playoff run. He looks to be getting weaker, not stronger.
Where the heck did his one timer go?
I love players like JTM. I think he has at least a few good years left and think he is good in the room unless you don't pull your weight.
I am hoping for a one for one with a Petey trade. Like Quinns buddy Brady from their USDT days.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

i think you have to wait it out and keep trying to make it work

objectively you want petey because he’s the younger player and miller is likely going to underperform on his contract at some pt as he ages

but otoh, i don’t know what goes on in petey’s head but if miller is traded, given the fanbase’s mancrush on him, how is he going to wear the pressure of being the one they chose and being the reason jt had to go?

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Trade them both and tank for Bedard, Celebrini, Hagens, McKenna.

 

[supercanuck]

Honest question...how can someone question EP's mental fortitude considering what just happened with JT recently? Management needs to consider that aspect for both players.

Trade them both and tank for Bedard, Celebrini, Hagens, McKenna.

Hopefully, Aiden can convince Macklin to come home

 

[Peen]

Honest question...how can someone question EP's mental fortitude considering what just happened with JT recently? Management needs to consider that aspect for both players.

I texted Vector about this bc I didn’t wanna deal with people responding to it, but I do think that whole Miller break would have been perceived completely differently had it been Pettersson.

Not that I don’t think it’s ok for a player to take a break - in fact, I strongly believe in it.

 

[credulous]

I texted Vector about this bc I didn’t wanna deal with people responding to it, but I do think that whole Miller break would have been perceived completely differently had it been Pettersson.

Not that I don’t think it’s ok for a player to take a break - in fact, I strongly believe in it.

yeah there's a lot of hypocrisy on display with regards to miller/pettersson. i'm firmly team pettersson and have never liked miller but i at least try to hold them to the same standards

 

[sting101]

That is a tough call.

One player has all of the talent in the world but for whatever reason doesn't look like the same 100 point player. We don't know if Pettersson is still hurt or lost his speed and incredible shot from past injuries. If the Canucks were guaranteed that Pettersson would come back from whatever was/is ailing him then I would chose Pettersson no question. Due to his age, incredible skills and potential assets received in a trade return.

Miller is a character of his own. Has the most character on the team and the most heart. Not sure if his heart gets the better of him and he becomes a aggressive dick in the locker room or what, but you can't question his will to win. The aggressive way Miller plays is a asset to have, especially in the playoffs. I do worry though about his age, Miller turns 32 in a couple of months and who knows if he can keep up with the aggressive style he plays.

If I had to trade one "which I would prefer to keep both because it's almost impossible to have one 100 point ceterman, let alone two", I would probably trade Miller. Petterssons age and skillset are hard to come by, and trading Petey will most likely come back to bite you in the ass.

In all honesty I just want to win with the two 100 point centers we have. Just wish they could get their shit together and work as a team.

This.
Well said.

Really wish this 9 vs 40 crap would just go away. Our best chance to win is with both united for the cause. The minute we break or they break were done. Your not gonna get back a better player

 

[Peen]

Fwiw, I thought Miller started this season well given the context. He was playing hard but seemed limited by injuries and whatever was going on. It looked very pre-tocchet Miller, but he was at least trying. Obviously the last few games were horrific.

His recent performance since his return, + the commentary from the ITKs, and the weird powerplay separation..

Something’s going to have to give. I don’t feel inspired with choosing Pettersson given what we’ve seen and the inconsistency, but I also don’t really think it should be a hard choice unless Hughes is planting his flag along Miller?

Much preferred last season w zero injuries and zero drama.

This.
Well said.

Really wish this 9 vs 40 crap would just go away. Our best chance to win is with both united for the cause. The minute we break or they break were done. Your not gonna get back a better player

Absolutely won’t get back a better player, but it’s an opportunity to get younger and improve the team morale.

Team age profile looks a lot different if they can grab some sort of U25 starlet and move out Miller.

I wonder if they’ve been trying to orchestrate something where they get attractive assets and flip that for their reported targets. Might also explain why his usage has been even higher with Hughes than it historically has been. Who knows

 

[ChilliBilly]

make a trade which we win.

Don't care which.

Don't trade either player in desperation to make a change.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Keep EP.

 

[Draino]

Keep EP. Younger, higher ceiling, better defensively.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Honest question...how can someone question EP's mental fortitude considering what just happened with JT recently? Management needs to consider that aspect for both players.



Hopefully, Aiden can convince Macklin to come home

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

In my opinion, you always move on from the older guys with baggage. Nonis did well to make wholesale changes that off-season and ship out Bertuzzi and Jovo after 2005-06, but made the mistake of keeping Naslund.

Chances are, there will be some players that will want out if the team trades Miller and stands behind Pettersson.

In a scenario where both guys are butting heads then I would be open to moving on from both of them though.

 

[Bleach Clean]

You trade the guy that forces the decision, every time.

The relative age and skill level of the player doesn't matter. It's the long-term implication of the personalities involved. If you placate Miller to trade Pettersson, you still deal with a volatile Miller afterward. If you instead trade Miller to appease Pettersson and they don't win, now Pettersson is a pariah. It's a bad situation.

 

[StickShift]

For a franchise that managed to trade 2x star caliber goaltenders within one-year (Luongo and Schneider) it would track that the Canucks would then trade 3x first-line caliber centers in two years (Horvat, Pettersson, and Miller).

 

[supercanuck]

It's kind of ironic but seems that this team is lacking a few respected veteran leaders. The young guys learned "leadership" from Real Gud, Louie, and Sutter, while JT came with his own baggage. You wonder if even just having a Tanev there would have helped a great deal in a situation like this.