NHL insider picks Elias Pettersson over $56,000,000 Canucks forward amid ongoing trade rumors

Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller have provided us with plenty of content this season. The noise around their fractured relationship has only become louder, and it feels as if a trade of either star player could be on the horizon.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on Saturday Night Headlines that all options are on the table. That includes keeping them, trading one, or even potentially trading both players.

All of the trade rumors have led to speculation and debate about what the Canucks should do. They face an extremely difficult decision involving two of their franchise cornerstones.

Former NHLer and current TSN analyst Mike Johnson, on "Overdrive," broke down all the factors that have him preferring to keep the $92.8 milliom center Pettersson over the $56 million center Miller.

"You don't hang out, that's cool, but you just play, and it's fine. So if it's that deep, and I don't know what would make it be that deep, I have no idea. But if it's something like that, and I'm hopeful that the Canucks would know sort of the root of the discord, then maybe something has to give," Johnson said (16:30)

"And if something has to give, are you gonna go with the 26-year-old or the 31-year-old, like, even if you like the Miller personality, even if you like the Miller game, whatever it might be, even if you like the Miller contract, maybe more than Pettersson's right now, the five years make Pettersson sort of much more attractive long term. And while the Zibanejad for Miller is two Centermen, you can't make that trade if you're Vancouver, you become measurably worse And that's not gonna work for them," Johnson added.

Elias Pettersson being five years younger than J.T. Miller could certainly play a massive factor in how Vancouver handles this situation.

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Elias Pettersson is nearing a return from injury

Elias Pettersson has missed the last five games due to an undisclosed injury. The 26-year-old traveled with the Canucks on their current road trip, and his return to game action appears imminent.

Vancouver has gone 1-2-2 during Pettersson's absence. It remains to be seen whether he and J.T. Miller can co-exist on the ice when he re-joins the Canucks lineup, as their rift has reportedly begun affecting their on-ice play.

Pettersson's next chance to play will come when the Canucks continue their road trip into Washington to face the Metropolitan-division-leading Capitals. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. EST at Capital One Arena.