J.T. Miller spoke to a speculated rift with teammate Elias Pettersson on Sunday and it wasn’t exactly a fireside chat.
It was firm and frank. The Vancouver Canucks centre took the growing outside noise away from the locker room and addressed a widely-reported discord between the star players in the hallway. Miller then pointed the finger of blame at the media.
“You guys in a sense of that outer world have created this thing,” said Miller. “This isn’t a thing. So, am I bothered? No.
But you guys are just wasting your time. I don’t care. You can ask me all you want.
“I can bring in Petey and we can do the interview together, if that will make you guys happy. I have a lot of stuff to worry about right now myself and I’m not worried about any noise and it’s not between my ears. “I’m trying to find out how to play a good 200-foot game.
” Miller and Pettersson share the same creative and scoring traits, but are polar opposites. Miller is an alpha male and cut from an old-school cloth. He’s loud and proud, and his stick slams of frustration and F-bombs are often directed at himself for mistakes or missing assignments.
Pettersson has a different view of the world. He’s very good at his chosen craft but has other interests and is drawn to music and fashion, among other things. However, that shouldn’t deter the pair from finding common ground to put personalities aside and drive the offence.
Miller didn’t have a shot attempt Saturday in a 5-4 overtime los.