Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller is taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons, the team announced Tuesday.
Miller played in all 17 of the Canucks’ games to date but will be away from the club until further notice. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said in a statement their focus is on helping out Miller.
“Right now, our sole focus is making sure that J.T. knows the entire organization is here to support him,” Allvin said. “Out of respect to J.T., we will have no further comment at this time.”
Miller, 31, has six goals and 10 assists for 16 points so far this season. He’s coming off a career-high 103-point campaign in 2023-24 when the Canucks made it to the second round of the playoffs.
In Sunday’s game against the Nashville Predators, Miller played for 11:41 of ice time, which was down from his average of 18:24 this season. He did not play for the final 14:40 of that game.
In Miller’s absence, it’s likely Elias Pettersson will play in the No. 1 center role. Pettersson has four goals and six points in his last five games, and the 21:35 of ice time he played against the Predators was his most in the season since the 23:34 he played in the season opener against the Calgary Flames.
The Canucks further announced they recalled left winger Arshdeep Bains from AHL Abbotsford. The 23-year-old Bains has one goal in eight NHL games this season and four points in four AHL games.
In 816 career NHL games between the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Canucks, Miller has 244 goals, 411 assists and 655 points. He also has 91 career playoff games, with 12 goals and 44 assists for 56 points.
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