The Vancouver Canucks’ regular-season opener is fast approaching, and star forward J.T. Miller has yet to make his preseason debut. Despite the team having played five games already, Miller has not dressed for any of them, raising concerns among fans and media alike.
Miller’s absence came as a surprise, particularly because he was prominently featured in the team’s marketing for the first preseason game, with the club even suggesting in promotional materials that he would play. As the Canucks head into their final preseason matchup on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers, many wondered if Miller would suit up and how ready he will be for the season ahead.
During a media availability on Tuesday, Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet put some of the speculation to rest, confirming that Miller will indeed play in the preseason finale. Miller himself addressed the situation after practice today.
“I’ve just kind of been taking care of something and not forcing it. We’ve had the luxury of having some time over the last few weeks. Just trying to be smart.”
When asked about the decision to sit out the earlier games, Miller acknowledged that it wasn’t a matter of how many games he wanted to play but rather a precautionary measure.
“The number of games I want to play isn’t the issue here. Unfortunately, it’s tough for the other guys, but I had to take care of myself and not push it so I’d be ready for Friday’s game. I was concerned that if I played earlier, I might have aggravated something and made it worse, which we didn’t need. I’ll be ready to go on Friday,” said Miller.
Despite his absence from the ice, Miller has kept a close eye on the team’s preseason performances.
“To be honest, I haven’t watched a lot. I did watch last night, though, and I thought the guys put in a great effort. They went up against a strong roster on the road, and you can tell a lot of them are really trying to make the team. They made a good impression on many people, not just me,” he remarked.
With just one more preseason game before the regular season begins, Miller’s return is a positive development for the Canucks. Fans will be eager to see him back on the ice, ready to lead the team as they look to make a strong start to the 2024-25 season.
