The two stars have had such large conflicts that it has affected their own game – and the team's. The other day, sports manager Jim Rutherford said that the only remaining solution could be that one of them has to leave.
So it will be now, and JT Miller is traded to New York Rangers. Also included in the deal is Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström.
We have tried to find a solution for a long time, but it seems that there is no long-term solution that keeps this group together, said Jim Rutherford according to nhl.com.
Elias Pettersson did not want to comment on whether the trade will make it easier for him to get his game going after Canucks' 3–5 loss to Dallas Stars.
We can only look forward. I don't even know what to say, he says according to nhl.com.
Vancouver's team captain Quinn Hughes acknowledges that the recent time has been turbulent:
There has been a lot of talk the last few weeks and months. But seeing him leave… he is a fantastic hockey player and I have appreciated playing with him for six years. We wish him the best, he says.
Incidentally, there will be another Pettersson in Vancouver going forward. The 28-year-old defenseman Marcus Pettersson is moving from Pittsburgh to Vancouver in a trade where two players from each club switch places.
The deal also includes Pittsburgh getting the rights to Örebro's 18-year-old forward talent Melvin Fernström, who was drafted by Vancouver last summer.
