Vancouver Canucks fans are well aware of J.T. Miller’s significance to the team. He topped the Canucks’ scoring last season with a career-high of 103 points and ranks 10th in the NHL over the last three seasons with a total of 284 points.
Given this context, any possible absence of Miller raises concerns for those associated with the Canucks, regardless of hockey’s team-oriented nature. Unfortunately, this is the situation the team currently faces. According to NHL.com, Miller is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center at the end of the Canucks’ four-game road trip due to an injury sustained on Saturday night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
Miller’s injury occurred just after he participated in the opening face-off, forcing him to leave for the locker room moments later. He did return quickly but managed to take only one more face-off for the remainder of the match. Some might argue that his continued play indicates a minor issue, yet he only attempted a single shot on goal during that game, suggesting that his performance was hindered.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet addressed Miller’s injury, noting, “He’s dealing with some stuff. We’ll figure it out over the next couple of days, but we didn’t want him to take draws.” Tocchet believes Miller will suit up for Tuesday’s game but is cautious, stating, “I expect that, but you never know. He’ll get a couple days off to rest it and (we’ll) see where it goes.”
The worst-case scenario could see Miller miss just one game, which would be rare for a player known for his toughness, having missed only four games combined over the past three seasons. Miller is crucial to the Canucks and is starting to gain more recognition around the league. Additionally, he is often seen as underrated for his clutch performance, as evidenced by his overtime winner against the Florida Panthers last Thursday, which tied him for the most overtime goals in the NHL since he joined the Canucks in the 2019-20 season, with 10.
In the latest Canucks news, the team secured its first win by defeating the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night. Star player Elias Pettersson is still sidelined, but the rest of the team stepped up, led by captain Quinn Hughes, who contributed one goal and one assist. J.T. Miller netted the game-winner with assistance from Hughes. Teddy Blueger, Kiefer Sherwood, and the fourth line also chipped in with goals.
Defensively, recent call-up Erik Brannstrom performed admirably in Derek Forbort’s absence, even if only for 11 minutes on the ice. Despite Thatcher Demko’s ongoing recovery from injury, goaltender Kevin Lankinen has excelled in his two starts, registering a 1.89 GAA and a .932 save percentage.
Newcomer Daniel Sprong was absent from Thursday’s winning roster, as he was benched by Tocchet just two games into his tenure with the team. Sprong has a history of poor defensive metrics, which has unfortunately been reflected in his gameplay. While he has produced impressive offensive stats—39 goals and 89 points over the past two seasons—he has switched teams frequently due to defensive concerns. Currently on a one-year, $975,000 contract, he is likely to rejoin the lineup soon, but Tocchet expects him and other players to improve their performances.
