Hughes: Pettersson-Miller saga caused 'a lot of noise'

The Vancouver Canucks are ready to turn the page on all the drama after J.T. Miller was traded to the New York Rangers on Friday.

Captain Quinn Hughes admitted the rift between Miller and fellow star center Elias Pettersson - and all the speculation that came with it - was tough to navigate.

"Not only myself but everyone in the organization. There's just been a lot of noise," Hughes said following Vancouver's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday. "For (Miller), too. It's been a lot on him. I think he's looking forward to a fresh start, but we're obviously going to miss him here."

President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford confirmed Tuesday that there was a rift between Miller and Pettersson. The club reportedly shopped both players over the last month before ultimately dealing Miller.

Pettersson took the high road while discussing Miller's exit.

"All we can do now is look forward," he said. "I wish him the best."

He added that losing Miller is "a big blow."

The pair were prolific as linemates in their early days with the Canucks. Miller shifted to become a full-time center over the last few years, and the duo created a dynamic 1-2 punch down the middle. Pettersson notched a career-high 102 points in 2022-23, while Miller reached a personal-best 103 points in 2023-24.

"We have had some really good moments," Pettersson said, highlighting playoff runs in 2020 and 2024. "Both of us made each other better."

Both Pettersson and Miller are in the midst of down seasons. As a team, the Canucks have regressed significantly following a division title in 2024 - they currently sit outside of the Western Conference playoff picture.