J.T. Miller Trade: Elias Pettersson Must Be A Lot Better Now
After the Vancouver Canucks traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers, Elias Pettersson will need to be much better if he wants to remain with the Canucks.
Patrik Allvin, general manager of the Canucks, made a choice when he traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers: he chose to keep Elias Pettersson for now.
When he opened up about it, he said that it was never one or the other, but more that Miller wanted a fresh start, and it was the best option for him and the Canucks that they part ways.
"I wouldn't say it was one or the other. This was a conversation between myself and J.T. and his agent that started about two months ago with his health and the environment we had during the time, and during the discussions leading up to yesterday.
I felt that he probably needed a fresh start and where he was in his life and in his age and with his family that this was the best option for him and the Vancouver Canucks."
I felt that he probably needed a fresh start and where he was in his life and in his age and with his family that this was the best option for him and the Vancouver Canucks."
Pettersson must now deal with more pressure: he's still in Vancouver and Miller isn't. The team's depth at the center position slimmed down.
Miller had 37 points in 40 games with the Canucks. Pettersson tallied 33 points in 46 games.
Also, Pettersson has a bigger contract, earning $11.6 million a year for the next eight seasons.
Allvin was clear when he talked about the expectations on Pettersson: they are much higher now.
Here's what he said:
"That's part of being a professional hockey player, especially when you commit to that kind of contract.
My expectation is higher on him than anyone else on our team, and I expect him to meet my expectation, and I expect him to meet his own expectation, and so far he has not done that.
If you talk to him, he's disappointed, but he's aware of it, and I know that he's capable, and he will work at it."
My expectation is higher on him than anyone else on our team, and I expect him to meet my expectation, and I expect him to meet his own expectation, and so far he has not done that.
If you talk to him, he's disappointed, but he's aware of it, and I know that he's capable, and he will work at it."
Pettersson also talked about it, saying he wanted that pressure, and it's up to him to make the best out of that opportunity:
"Honestly, I want that pressure. And it's up to me to take it."
We should know by the end of the season if the Canucks made the right call by trading Miller and keeping Pettersson.
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