J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson are said to have issues with each other since last season (Source: Getty Images)

The talk surrounding conflict between Vancouver Canucks superstars Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller has been going around the league leading up to the Christmas break. It has generated several reactions not just from the organization but also from NHL insiders.

Elliotte Friedman gave his two cents while discussing the issue on Sportsnet’s “Saturday Headlines.” Per Friedman, if the feud between Miller and Pettersson doesn’t solve itself then there are high chances that the spillover effects would continue to haunt the Canucks.

He also mentioned that if required the Canucks would consider trading either of them. It may depend on who the management feels is more crucial to the team’s success.

“In a perfect world, the Canucks’ number one choice by far is that Pettersson and Miller remain long term players in the organization. They’re both on the Four Nations team for a reason. They’re both excellent players, and the Canucks have a better chance to win with them. And I think that is their goal.

“And they’ve told them, nobody expects you to play Playstation together, as Rick Tocchet said, but they do expect you to have a professional working relationship and they have to have that. If, yes, they can do it, then we don’t have a single problem here. If no, I don’t think there’s a timeline or anything like that. Like they haven’t started the clock. But eventually, I think everybody realized something is going to have to give,” Friedman said.

Earlier on Saturday, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and coach Rick Tocchet had given their thoughts on the divide between the two Canucks players. They downplayed the incident stating that it was upon both the players and the team to get their unity back.

Canucks’ Elias Pettersson dismisses rumors of ongoing conflict with J.T. Miller

Elias Pettersson was having none of it when questioned about the alleged rift with Miller. He dismissed it in the postgame interviews on Saturday. As per Pettersson, things are ‘good’ between the pair.

“Well, same answer. It’s good. I don’t know why people still try and make sh*t up. Excuse my language. But yeah, that’s my response,” Pettersson said.

The Canucks went down 5-4 against the Ottawa Senators in overtime. They had staged a comeback propelled by Hughes, who provided three points, and Brock Boeser, who scored twice including the fourth goal for the team in the third period.

However, Vancouver lost in OT at home.

The Canucks are 2-3-3 in their last eight games. They have 39 points from 33 games and sit fourth in the Pacific Division.