By The Hockey Writers,The Old Prof

Copyright yardbarker

But you also can’t ignore what they lost. Miller has that playoff-style grit Vancouver fans are still begging for. He’s the guy who doesn’t just talk about urgency – he lives it. By moving on, they might have dodged internal drama—but they also might have handed another team the exact kind of leadership they’ve been missing.

The Bottom Line: What This Move Says About the Canucks

When the Rangers view Miller as the model for their “best” team, it comes across as a backhanded shot at Vancouver. The Canucks had that same player, and they decided he didn’t fit. And that’s the story here: it’s not about Miller changing. It’s about what each franchise values. The Rangers see accountability, edge, and urgency. The Canucks saw conflict, friction, and too much fire.

One team just gave him the “C.” The other team didn’t even want him in the room. Time will tell which organization was right. But if you’re a Canucks fan, you have to wonder whether the guy you were ready to push out might have been the kind of leader you’ll eventually wish you’d kept.

Funny how hockey works. In Vancouver, Miller was the storm cloud blocking out the sunshine. In New York, he’s the lightning bolt they’ve been waiting for. Same guy, same snarl, same edge — but suddenly he’s not a problem, he’s a captain.

Maybe leadership really is just in the eye of the beholder.