Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali tweeted today that Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford has said publicly that the team will not trade forward J.T. Miller, and he has not requested a trade out of Vancouver. Rutherford added that the Canucks are standing by Miller and that he believes it is fair to speculate on the situation, but people need to be realistic about what is going on.
Patrick Johnson of The Province writes that Miller is looking to get himself right while he is away on personal leave, and there is no date determined yet for when he will return. Ultimately, that date will be decided by Miller, according to Rutherford. Miller’s focus is on getting back to where he was mentally, and hopefully, he can do so.
Since being traded to Vancouver in June of 2019, all Miller has done is put up stellar offensive numbers, averaging over a point a game with 418 points in 381 games. Miller’s numbers have improved during his time with the Canucks, and he hit several career highs last season, posting a career-best 103 points (37 goals and 66 assists) in 81 games. He has also eclipsed 30 goals in each of the last three seasons.
This year, Miller started the year with six goals and 10 assists in 17 games.
I’m sure the team most disappointed by this news is the New York Rangers who were reportedly interested in acquiring Miller but that seems to be all but done now. Miller is staying with Vancouver it appears.
What? Were they offering Shesterkin for him or something? What does the Rangers have that the Canucks would want? Why would Miller even want to go back there. Who would the Canucks take back from that tire fire?
No offers were reportedly made. It was just a feeler from the Rangers to see if Miller is available for trade. Vancouver wasn’t seeking to trade him nor did Miller request a trade or ever express any interest in wanting to go back to New York.
My unpopular take. I’m prepared to be roasted but hear me out.
I’m pro-mental health. I am. Take a day or two. Or a week. Work is hard. It wears us down.
But it is work. Most of us take a leave, we don’t get paid.
This is a team sport and players are paid millions to be accountable to their teammates so that they, too, can do well and sign multi million dollar contracts. They are accountable to the audience that pays their salaries.
So whatever it is (doesn’t appear to be medical since all previous medical leaves are called “injury”) than I hope he is getting the help he needs but he also has to realize that work is hard, he is 8% of the payroll, people count on him, and sometimes being unhappy at work or home is part of life.
My $0.02 that I realize is unpopular
Is he sad…or is he on blow?
My ENTIRELY baseless speculation, but…after Kuznetsov and Mike Richards and Ryan Malone and others over the past decade of so, that’s become my default guess with hockey players.
IF that is the case, then he’d have to get away but they might not want to say why.
I wonder if it’s adjusting to a variance in his role on the team with the ‘new blood’ that was brought in this year? Hope it’s nothing serious!
He’s an important cog in the Nuck machine and wishes are he returns soon refreshed and ready to make history.
Does he have that different a role this year? Watching the games he’s still a top line high minutes guy, powerplay, 3 on 3.. He’s an emotional guy but I haven’t bought any of the trade rumors. Not sure what’s up with him but he is missed in the lineup. Hope he’s well and back soon.
I hope he’s well. It does seem that when players do this, they are automatically on the trade block or something. I’m glad that the Nucks shut it down.
Does Rutherford realize that the more secretive the team is, The more people will speculate, Also, If Miller can’t show up for work while still collecting a paycheck, I would think that he would be ineligible for a spot on the Four nations USA entry.
Let him take the whole year off!
Someone mentioned there might’ve been a beef between JT and Petey ?
Anyone hear anything on this?