Ex-Canucks HC Bruce Boudreau blasts Vancouver media over Elias Pettersson-J.T. Miller drama

Former Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau blasted the Vancouver media over the supposed drama between stars Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller.

The two players were rumored to have a rift in the locker room, leading to speculation that one of them could be traded, but both Elias Pettersson and Miller have denied any issues between them.

Despite the players downplaying the issue, the local media continued to stir up gossip about a divide between the two stars. That prompted Boudreau to call out the Vancouver media on the NHL Tonight: First Shift podcast.

"Because the media in Vancouver is nuts. They take everything, and they build everything out of proportion," Boudreau said (starting 17:43).

"Every hockey player that's out there has played on a team that's not everybody has gotten along, and they've got different personalities. But once you get on the ice, you're all like you're not sitting there hoping the other guy fails. It just doesn't happen on the rope."

Boudreau explained that despite the supposed drama, Elias Pettersson and Miller continue to play big minutes for the Canucks - over 20 minutes per game. He believes the media likes to exaggerate problems when the team is struggling.

The Canucks lost eight of their last 11 games but haave the second wild-card position with 45 points in 39 games (18-12-9). Bruce Boudreau said:

"It's not just since I've been let go; this has been going on in Vancouver. When I was in Washington and in Minnesota, they say, 'Well, you think the press is bad here? Wait till you go to Vancouver and see what's going on there.' So, I mean, it's always they blow things out of proportion."

Boudreau firmly denied any serious issue between the two stars and instead placed the blame on the Vancouver media for dramatizing rumors. He believes that Pettersson and Miller are competitive players who want to win, even if they aren't the best of friends off the ice.

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Elliotte Friedman stirs up trade talk on Canucks' Elias Pettersson & J.T. Miller

Elliotte Friedman reported that the Vancouver Canucks are considering trading star forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller amid rumoured rift.

On Sportsnet's Saturday Headlines, Friedman noted that the Canucks would entertain all options.

"And there's really three of them - neither gets dealt, one of them gets dealt, or both get dealt. That's on the table. I don't want to predict the likelihood of any particular scenario, but I think all three of those outcomes are possible," Friedman said.

Any trade involving either player will likely require a significant return, with the Canucks seeking a center as a part of any package.