Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller Takes Indefinite Leave of Absence for Personal Reasons

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team due to personal reasons, as announced by the team’s general manager, Patrik Allvin, on Tuesday.

“Right now, our sole focus is making sure that J.T. knows the entire organization is here to support him,” Allvin stated. “Out of respect to J.T., we will have no further comment at this time.”

This announcement comes after a notable benching of Miller during the Canucks’ 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday. Miller was benched for the final 14:40 of the third period, with head coach Rick Tocchet explaining that he went with the players he thought could get the team back in the game. Tocchet denied that the benching was due to an injury, despite speculation from some insiders that Miller might be dealing with a lingering injury, possibly to his shoulder.

Miller, who had a standout season last year with 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists), has been a key player for the Canucks. This season, he has 6 goals and 16 points in 17 games. His absence will be felt, particularly given his significant role in the team’s offense and his dominance in face-offs, where he ranks seventh overall with a 59.1% win rate.

The Canucks organization has emphasized their support for Miller during this time, and further details on his leave are not expected to be disclosed out of respect for his privacy.