Rick Tocchet calls out JT Miller as things come to a head in Vancouver

Earlier this week TSN NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that the Vancouver Canucks have determined that if one of forwards JT Miller or Elias Pettersson has to be removed from their team via trade, it'll be Miller who walks the plank.

“There’s a sense league-wide that J.T. Miller is the more likely to be moved,” said Johnston on TSN's Insider Trading. 

Johnston would go on to explain that a lot of movement around the league is hinging on the Canucks and what they do with Miller.

“We might not see much action otherwise league-wide until something happens here with Vancouver because this is such a big domino that’s out there,” continued Johnston.

All of this stems from, of course, an apparent falling out between Miller and Pettersson. The pair reportedly cannot co-exist on the team and their relationship soured so badly that Miller had to take a leave of absence from the team earlier this season.

Today, reporters asked Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet why Miller's play has decreased so significantly and Tocchet took the opportunity to call out the veteran player's play... frankly, Miller also called himself out.

“He’s not hurt,” Tocchet told reporters before pausing.

"He needs to be better, he knows it," Tocchet continued.

“It’s tough. Guys like that want to play on the edge, so he’s trying to temper it; he doesn’t want to take dumb penalties, things like that. He’s at his best when he’s driving play.”

“I think it’s just the way we’re made up right now…we’re playing more four lines, and I think it’s helped our team not give the other team as many shots, try to stay in the game. But he wants to play better, he knows it.”

As for Miller, he didn't have much insight into why he's not playing, brushing off reporters with a quick answer.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Probably could play a little better, I don’t know.”

Call me crazy, but that doesn't sound like a highly motivated individual.

It's clear that things are coming to a head in Vancouver and that something must be done to resolve this locker room feud. Stay tuned.