Canucks GM: Miller walks 'fine line' with his competitiveness

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin shed some light on Friday's trade that sent J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers.

The deal ended a month-long saga fueled with speculation over a rift between Miller and fellow star center Elias Pettersson. Allvin hinted that Miller's competitive spirit can be a lot to handle sometimes.

"I mean, J.T. Miller, the reason why he's good in the league is that he's super competitive, and he's walking the fine line at times," Allvin told reporters Saturday. "And I also think that he's been dealing with a lot of other things. I wouldn't just say it's about two players, it's about 23 men."

Miller notably missed 10 games earlier in the season while on personal leave.

Allvin added that it's OK for tensions to run high - to a certain degree.

"In a dressing room you hold each other accountable," he said. "We're not running a country club here, we're running a professional hockey team, and the players demand a lot from themselves and each other. So it's going to be a competitive environment."

Allvin also reiterated that Miller, who held a full no-movement clause, did not request a trade. The GM believes it was best for both sides to part ways.

"This was a conversation between myself and J.T. and his agent," Allvin said. "It started about two months ago with his health and the environment we had. During the time and during the discussions leading up to yesterday, I felt that he probably needed a fresh start in where he was in his life and in his age, and with his family, (and) that this was the best option for him and the Vancouver Canucks."

The Canucks acquired center Filip Chytil, defense prospect Victor Mancini, and a conditional first-round pick from the Rangers in exchange for Miller, Erik Brannstrom, and Jackson Dorrington. Vancouver then flipped the first-rounder to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a five-player trade that netted blue-liner Marcus Pettersson and winger Drew O'Connor.

Miller recorded a pair of goals in his first game back with the Rangers on Saturday.