When the Vancouver Canucks aren't quite living up to the high standards set by fans and the team itself, the rumour mill tends to churn extra hard on the West Coast.
This time around, it's the alleged rift between star forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller that's been front and centre for the Canucks as they struggle through a passable, though not ideal, opening third of the season.
Adding fuel to the fire the past few games has been head coach Rick Tocchet's decision to deploy the two on different power-play units, before seemingly reuniting them during their Saturday morning skate.
Following that skate, the team addressed the feud for the first time to reporters.
"Not to beat around the bush because everyone knows what the reports are out there, but I think that everyone expects a lot out of each other," captain Quinn Hughes told reporters when asked about the state of team unity. "There's times I get upset with Millsy, there's times I get upset with Petey, there's times I get upset with Hronek. That doesn't mean that I don't love those guys and vice versa.
"Over the course of playing together for six years, I think that those things are normal and they're going to happen."
Both Miller and Pettersson are signed to long-term deals in Vancouver (eight years, $56 million and eight years, $92 million, respectively) though the no-move clause for Pettersson doesn't kick in until next summer, leading to rumblings that the 100-point centre could be dealt prior to that.
That may be a bit of an overreaction, considering the two were able to table their grievances amidst newfound team success last season en route to clinching the Pacific Division.
"One-hundred per cent I believe it's workable," Hughes continued. "You saw it last year, very evident. I think that both of them are going through their own struggles this year. I believe in both of them. They're great players and great people. There's time's where we all get into it but it is a family in here and we've just got to continue this year to push forward and play the way we want to play."
Both Miller and Pettersson have not played their best hockey this year, pouring gasoline on an already-raging fire. Miller, who previously took a leave of absence due to personal reasons, has six goals and 13 assists in 22 games, but has not scored since Nov. 16 whereas Pettterrson has eight goals and 18 assists in 32 games and has not lit the lamp in five games.
Regardless of on-ice struggles, Tocchet — who recently called out unnamed players for a lack of emotional investment — believes the squad needs to play for the team as a whole, rather than padding the stats.
"It's all about the crest," Tocchet told reporters. "It's always about the crest, not the name on the back. You're going to have arguments, you're going to have fights.
"Whether people are bickering and complaining, it's my job to make sure guys have a voice and you move on from that sort of stuff. But, you also have to be mature too. You don't have to play PlayStation with each other, you don't have to go to dinner together, but if it's your turn to go to the net, go to the net."
The Canucks have the opportunity to prove their camaraderie when they take on the surging Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. Watch all the action on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
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