The Vancouver Canucks revealed on Tuesday that star forward J.T. Miller has requested, and been granted, an indefinite personal leave of absence. This follows Miller being benched by head coach Rick Tocchet at the close of Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Miller, 31, had been on a three-game point streak prior to the loss, tallying one goal and four assists. While his performance this season has generally met his usual high standards, with six goals, 10 assists, and 16 points in 17 games, his current pace would put him on track for 77 points in an 82-game season. This would mark the least productive campaign for Miller in his last four years with the Canucks.
However, Miller’s slower start is not solely his fault. The Canucks, despite their decent overall record, have struggled as a team, and the performance of interim starting goalie Kevin Lankinen has declined, contributing to recent disappointing results.
According to Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal, Miller’s leave is not expected to be extended for a long period. Dhaliwal tweeted that the decision seems to be a necessary reset for Miller, offering him time and space to regroup.
While Miller is not expected to join the Canucks on their upcoming six-game road trip, his future availability remains uncertain beyond that. The team and fans alike hope Miller can resolve any personal challenges and return to the level of play they have come to expect from the talented forward. Everyone has tough times, and sometimes a break is exactly what’s needed.
