Ex-Vancouver Canucks forward recalls his cautionary message to J.T. Miller over his severe strictness with Elias Pettersson

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Brad Richardson recently disclosed his cautionary message to current Canucks star J.T. Miller regarding his treatment of teammate Elias Pettersson.

Speaking on the "New Year's Special" episode of the Missin Curfew podcast, Richardson revealed that there was tension between Miller and Pettersson going back to the 2021-22 season, when Richardson was briefly part of the organization.

Richardson responded to reports of a rift between the two stars, explaining that he witnessed issues between them firsthand three years ago.

"Let me tell you this, and I'll be super honest with you. I was in that dressing room with those guys," Richardson said. "I love J.T., love him. He's a f***ing animal. But I even told him. I said, Hey, you're too hard on this kid."

According to Richardson, Miller was excessively harsh in his criticism of the young Pettersson.

"I know you're saying exactly what I think, but he's a kid that doesn't take when you're on him. When you're on him, he's gonna shut it down," Richardson recounted telling Miller."I told him, like, Hey, you're gonna lose this guy if you keep doing it. That's what I said to him.”

While acknowledging Miller's leadership role on the team, Richardson cautioned him that Pettersson responds poorly to criticism and that Miller's hard-edged approach could backfire.

"I'm not saying you have to love every guy on your team. It helps, but something's gonna give there," Richardson warned at the time.

Richardson's insider perspective provides rare insight into the strained dynamic between two of Vancouver's biggest stars.

Former Canucks defenceman Shane O'Brien's proposed solution to J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson situation

After Brad Richardson’s message, host Shane O’Brien offered his take on the reported rift. He suggested a drastic solution—trading Elias Pettersson away.

“I love J.T. Miller, and if there is a problem between the two of them, if I'm the GM, I'm trading Pettersson. I don't care what anyone says in Vancouver. I love J.T. Miller...” O'Brien said.

O’Brien even floated a specific trade proposal, suggesting a one-for-one deal shipping Pettersson to the New York Islanders for Mathew Barzal. In O’Brien’s view, the trade would benefit both players, allowing Barzal to play closer to home while reuniting Pettersson with former Canucks teammate Bo Horvat in New York.

Though Miller and Pettersson have denied any rift, O’Brien believes a trade may be necessary if tensions persist, saying he would move Pettersson despite backlash from Canucks fans.