NASHVILLE, Tenn. — We know a hockey player will rarely publicly criticize a teammate no matter how much he may dislike him, but there were a lot of other ways Elias Pettersson could have handled a viewer’s question Saturday about J.T. Miller when Pettersson was on After Hours with Hockey Night in Canada host Scott Oake.
Pettersson could have hedged slightly or offered a vanilla-flavoured platitude, which has long been the scourge of media availabilities in the National Hockey League. Instead, the Vancouver Canucks‘ best player — and possible captain-in-waiting — went out of his way to unapologetically and unambiguously support a teammate who has been a lightning rod for fan vitriol this season.
“He’s a guy that wants to do everything to win and he’s a great teammate,” Pettersson said. “I know, obviously, there’s people who want to… I don’t know if shit on a player is the right (term). He’s passionate and all he cares about is winning. And yeah, he plays with a lot of emotion and so does the rest of the group.”
It felt like a revealing moment because it is hard to imagine two Canucks more different in personality and demeanour than Pettersson and Miller. But both are leaders, both want to win and could be co-driving the Canucks for many years.
Since Miller didn’t celebrate Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers by turning on the TV, he was unaware of what Pettersson said until after the Canucks skated here Tuesday morning to prepare for the Nashville Predators.
“That’s nice of him; I didn’t even know he said that,” Miller said. “It’s nothing that you guys don’t know, but I’m glad that Petey said that. Hopefully, we’re going to spend a lot of time here together. That’s the plan, right? So I’m looking forward to that.
“Petey and my relationship has come a long way. We’re still working at it. We’re completely different people, you know what I mean? You’re not going to be BFFs with everybody, but at the same time you come to work together. We are polar opposite in a lot of ways, but we’re working at it. We’ve come a long way.”
Miller and Pettersson are among the four alternate-captains coach Rick Tocchet named after captain Bo Horvat was traded to the New York Islanders.
Pettersson is reserved by nature, ultra-focussed as a player and measured in everything he does. Miller is vocal and emotional, which gets him into trouble at times as a player. Pettersson is a symphony, Miller a grunge-rock jam session.
Tocchet likes the contrast — to a degree.
“This is no different as a head coach with his assistant coaches; you can’t all have similar personalities,” Tocchet said. “Petey is very methodical, he’s a thinker, he’s a quiet guy. And Millsy… he gets emotional. I think for me, Petey’s got to take a little step forward and be… a little bit more leadership-vocal. And maybe Millsy can tone it down a bit.”
As he held his hands apart and then moved them closer together, Tocchet said: “One go can go a little this way and the other can go a little that way.”
Pettersson’s comments came a few days after former Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau told Sportsnet 590 The Fan: “I really liked J.T. and I want passionate players on my team. And J.T. is a passionate player. Sometimes his passion would get the better of him for short periods of time, but he would bounce right back. He’s a really good guy. He’s a really-liked player in the dressing room. He’s a really good hockey player. I mean, if I was ever coaching again and I could get him on my team, I would want him in a heartbeat. He’s not a problem at all. He’s just a passionate hockey player.”
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman has reported that teams have called the Canucks asking about Miller, whose seven-year, $56-million contract extension begins next season. The centre turns 30 in March, 11 days after the March 3 trading deadline.
“I really don’t think I’m getting traded; that’s all I have to say,” Miller said. “It’s a little different than last year. I don’t think I’m getting traded. I’ve been wrong before but I don’t think this is one of those times.”
Tocchet said Collin Delia starts in goal Tuesday night against the Predators. Thatcher Demko, out with a groin injury since Dec. 1, is on the trip and did extra work Tuesday morning with goaltending coach Ian Clark.
