J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson drama reminds Jay Rosehill of ex-Toronto Maple Leafs captain who would "smell blood and go after" players

Former NHL player Jay Rosehill shared his perspective on the reported feud between Vancouver Canucks stars J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.

Rosehill compared the situation to when Dion Phaneuf was captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and would reportedly challenge and antagonize teammates, particularly younger players who were not used to hard-nosed leadership style.

“And sometimes he'd pick a guy that didn't like that, and wouldn't shy away from it, and he'd smell blood, and he'd go after that guy all the time, and, not to the point where guys are in tears, but like, damn close, but you can go too far.” Rosehill said on Leafs Morning Take.

Rosehill pointed out that certain players didn't respond well to Phaneuf’s intense approach. While it motivated some, others felt put down. Rosehill noted that many younger players today do not respond well to these old-school intimidation tactics.

Relating this to the Miller-Pettersson drama, Rosehill speculated that it could be a clash between Miller's veteran, abrasive approach and Pettersson's newer generation mentality. He said:

“And I'm not saying that's with Elias Pettersson, necessarily, but there's definitely an element to an old school guy like Miller and maybe a new school kid like Pettersson and is not jiving well, which is obviously unfortunate for the connects."

Although Rosehill said he didn't know the specifics of the Canucks situation, his comparison to Phaneuf provided an interesting perspective.

Former Canucks defenceman Shane O'Brien's fix for J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson's dilemma

Former Canucks defenseman Shane O'Brien offered a bold solution for the rumored rift between Vancouver forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.

Speaking on the Missin Curfew podcast, O'Brien suggested the Canucks should trade Pettersson if tensions persist between the two stars.

“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.

He suggested a trade where Elias Pettersson is sent to the New York Islanders in return for Mathew Barzal. According to O’Brien, the move would give both players a new beginning, allowing Barzal to play closer to home while reuniting Pettersson with former teammate Bo Horvat.

Though Miller and Pettersson have publicly denied any internal issues, O'Brien believes a trade could be necessary if problems arise behind the scenes. He argued the Canucks should move Pettersson despite inevitable backlash from fans, if it would benefit team chemistry long-term.