Vancouver Canucks fans helped show just how much they appreciate J.T. Miller last night.
Miller hasn’t played since November 17, as he took a leave of absence for reasons not fully known to the public. Since then, rumours have run rampant, including speculation that he may be traded.
General manager Jim Rutherford recently shut down any and all trade speculation, iterating that the organization stands behind the 31-year-old. Last night made it clear that the fan base does, as well.
Around the midway point of the third period, with the Canucks leading the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2, fans in attendance at Rogers Arena broke into a “J.T. Miller” chant.
“How can you not love the fans for yelling ‘J.T.’ out there,” head coach Rick Tocchet said afterward. “That was pretty cool. I thought that was awesome. Thanks to the fans for that.”
The Canucks have actually fared well in Miller’s eight-game absence, putting up a 5-2-1 record. That said, they are a far better team with him in the lineup, and it looks like they may get just that soon.
Though Miller has yet to return to practice with his teammates, it was reported on Thursday that he has begun skating on his own. He was also included on Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, which, while not a guarantee, indicates that their selection committee believes he isn’t far off a return.
When at his best, Miller is one of the NHL’s most dominant forces up front. His skill and tenacious style make him a pain for opposing teams to go up against. He’s coming off of a 2023-24 season in which he registered a career-high 103 points, which was good enough for ninth in NHL scoring.
Prior to his personal leave, Miller had six goals and 16 points through 17 outings.
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