The Vancouver Canucks are off to a fine start of 3-1-2, but concerning information is beginning to spread that there could be a rift between star players in the locker room.
According a report this morning from Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal, there's been credible rumours of a conflict between Elias Pettersson and JT Miller that's been developing from some time. With Pettersson mired in a deep slump right now, pressure is significantly increasing around him.
At practice today, things even seemed to get choppy between Pettersson and Miller, with the two engaged in a heated battle for the puck. Some of the cross check Pettersson was dishing looked a little strong for a teammate in practice.
After the tense exchange, reporters asked Miller for his thoughts, who paid zero attention to the question shot down speaking about it at all.
If some Canucks players are calling out Pettersson for his level of play and demanding more from him, at the end of the day that's a positive for their team.
Pettersson currently hasn't scored a goal at even strength in over 30 games going back to last season, which is cause for serious concern considering he's in the first year of an eight-year contract that pays him $11.6M a season. Plenty of Canucks fans and media have heavily criticized Pettersson for playing far too much around the perimeter and not shooting the puck enough. For his contract, the Canucks need Pettersson to perform at his rate in the 2022-23 season: scoring 39 goals and 102 points. Pettersson hasn't been performing up to his standard, and he needs to work back to that soon.
If some Canucks players are calling out Pettersson for his level of play and demanding more from him, at the end of the day that's a positive for their team.
