Miller returns, ready to ‘get back and compete’ for Canucks

VANCOUVER — J.T. Miller will return from a private depart of absence for the Vancouver Canucks towards the Florida Panthers on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNP, SCRIPPS).

The 31-year-old ahead took half in his first full apply Wednesday since leaving the workforce for private causes on Nov. 19. He had missed the previous 10 video games.

“I’m enjoying tonight, and I actually would respect if we simply stayed away from the the reason why I wasn’t right here,” Miller stated Thursday. “I am not going to dive into the the reason why I wasn’t right here the final three, 4 weeks. So, I am right here with the workforce, and I’m able to sit up for what is going on to occur sooner or later, not essentially what has occurred up to now.”

Miller has 16 factors (six objectives, 10 assists) in 17 video games this season, which is seventh on the Canucks. He was second on the workforce in scoring earlier than occurring depart.

“I am excited, he is excited, the gamers are excited,” coach Rick Tocchet stated. “He is the most effective gamers within the League, so if you get a man like that again within the lineup, it means quite a bit.”

Miller, who’s in his sixth season with Vancouver and thirteenth within the NHL, stated it was onerous to be away from the workforce for thus lengthy.

“It [stinks] it doesn’t matter what it is for,” Miller stated. “This can be a household away from household right here and also you miss the blokes and I am simply excited to be round them and get again and compete.”

Canucks coach Rick Tocchet expects to see power from Miller, which is why his line is often on the ice to start out video games.

“He performs the sport the way in which it needs to be performed with a variety of fireplace. I do not count on something completely different,” Tocchet stated. “I simply assume that the perspective at the beginning of the video games, he actually brings that, places the opposite workforce on their toes proper off the bat. … I feel having a man like him, he’ll assist drag guys into the battle. I feel that what’s he is actually good at.”

Miller led Vancouver with profession highs in objectives (37), factors (103) and power-play factors (40) final season, and was a career-high plus-32. He’s within the second season of a seven-year, $56 million contract ($8 million common annual worth) he signed on Sept. 2, 2022.

Vancouver was 5-3-2 within the 10 video games with out Miller within the lineup.

“He brings a lot, so many various angles, what he does for our lineup, balancing it out, and what he does for the room together with his management and his presence,” defenseman Tyler Myers stated. “When he stepped away, a variety of us felt like we needed to present him his time and house so we did not discuss to him an excessive amount of. However all of us despatched him check-in texts, and it seems like he had an excellent few weeks. And I hope he did and actually, it is simply very nice to have him again.”