Despite the loss last night to the Edmonton Oilers, The Vancouver Canucks have been winning a lot of games. Due to this fact, the struggles of J.T. Miller are not being talked about, but Canucks reporter Jeff Paterson thinks there is something else going on.
Other than captain Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller is the highest skill and most consistent player the Canucks have, but with the media being hyper focused on Hughes and Elias Pettersson this season, the underwhelming play of Miller is a cause for concern and but flying under the radar.
It is not always worth reporting when a player goes through a dry spell, they all do, but with easily his worst performance of the season last night Vs. the Oilers, it now needs to be addressed.
Miller looked like a shell of himself out on the ice against the Oilers top line, he recorded 0 shots on goal with on just 1 shot attempt. He also was a true liability, whenever Miller stepped on the ice at even strength, the Oilers outshot the Canucks 8-0, had 9-1 quality chances and finally, outscored them 3-0.
J.T. Miller's empty net goal that came against the L.A. King on Thursday (November 7th), is his only goal that he has scored in the last 6 games...
Evidence suggests J.T. Miller dealing with an injury
With how hot Miller started off the season, and now seeing a steady decline in production, it can be assumed that he could be dealing with a nagging injury. It is important to note that this is speculation, but the evidence makes sense.
Millers highlight of the season came when they Canucks faced the Florida Panthers, where he scored the overtime winner. In their next game when they faced the Philadelphia Flyers, he suffered a minor upper body injury, and ever since then he has been remarkably quiet.
According to what Vancouver Canucks insider and reporter Jeff Paterson sees, he is in agreement with the this overarching argument.
With all the attention on Hughes, Lankinen and Elias Pettersson for the majority of the time, his play has gone unnoticed, but with Brock Boeser out for the foreseeable future, J.T. Miller must find a way to produce with out his regular linemate.
