J.T. Miller | #9 | C/W

[-Vintage Canuck-]

After an emergent season, J.T. Miller's 'main focus' is winning with the Canucks:

 

VANCOUVER – Records are meant to be broken, like Cotton Eye Joe. Doug Lidster’s single-season points record for a Vancouver Canucks defenceman was also meant to broken, although no one thought it would take 35 years for someone to eclipse 63 points.

 

Still, it was inevitable that Quinn Hughes would surpass Lidster, and it took the 22-year-old until his third National Hockey League season to do so mostly because COVID came along and wrecked the first two. It was easy to imagine in October that Hughes would erase Lidster’s record by May.

 

But who saw J.T. Miller scoring 100 points?

 

Only five Canucks in 52 years have hit triple digits in a single season. Miller, the 29-year-old power forward whose career high was 58 points before he came to Vancouver in 2019, is sitting on 97 points with regular-season games remaining Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings and Friday against the Edmonton Oilers.

 

Ninety-seven points ties Miller with Todd Bertuzzi for the seventh-most productive season in franchise history. And only one Canuck, Henrik Sedin, has ever had more assists in a season than Miller’s 66 helpers.

 

The only Vancouver players who have reached 100 points are Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Pavel Bure, Markus Naslund and Alex Mogilny.

 

Miller has scored 16 more points this season than any Canuck since Daniel won the NHL scoring title with 104 in 2011. He is 31 points ahead of his nearest teammate.

 

Seriously, Miller should get some Hart Trophy votes. Yes -- J.T. Miller.

 

“He's an unknown superstar,” Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said this week.

 

But he’s not unknown in Vancouver, and discussion about Miller’s future with the Canucks will dominate the off-season like the centre from the Pittsburgh area has dominated on the ice.

 

Miller has one season remaining at a bargain salary of $5.25 million. But given his age, value as a potential unrestricted free agent, and the Canucks’ salary-cap squeeze, it’s possible his next contract  will be unaffordable to the club. Which means this summer could bring a trade, rather than a contract extension.

 

But all the winning the Canucks did the last four-and-a-half months under Boudreau has inspired Miller, who told Sportsnet in an exclusive interview that he wants to win with his “friends” in Vancouver. He also said he believes what he has done offensively, blowing through his previous ceiling with the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, is sustainable for next season and beyond.

 

“I've kind of been on this trajectory for a while,” Miller said. “My first year here (in 2019-20), I had over a point-per-game and I had 27 goals. I mean, I feel like I could have got close to 90 points if I'd pushed that year (to 82 games). I think it would have been pretty similar to this year.

 

“I've talked so much about how crappy last year was for us. Like, I just want to ignore it for my whole career. But, I guess, from a production standpoint, I feel like I've been on a different trajectory the last few years. I feel good about it.

 

“I really do believe that when I come and have the right mindset about what makes me a good player. . . I typically play better and points come and we win more. It's so simple, but it took me a long time to figure that out. Expectation-wise, it's hard to hold that from a production standpoint. But my goal is to be a very complete, 200-foot centreman that can play against anybody. I want to play against the best players and, sacrificing some points for that but to give up less (defensively), that's where I want to be. Our team is going to be in a great spot over the next few years, and I really do believe that we can do something special as a group here.”

 

In three seasons since former general manager Jim Benning surrendered a first-round pick to Tampa to get him, Miller has 215 points in 200 games as a Canuck. The next nearest teammates are Hughes at 160 points (in 198 games) and Elias Pettersson at 153 points (172 games).

 

No wonder general manager Patrik Allvin said in February that, ideally, Miller is a player you build around, not one you trade.

 

But what does the player want?

 

“Winning is the best,” Miller said. “Winning is just more fun, right? You're excited to come to the rink. Players are playing with more confidence, everybody's feeling good about themselves, and that brings energy. And we have really good leadership here in the sense we're always pushing each other. We all want to be better. We're pushing each other to be a little bit better every day. And I think it showed in our results.

 

“It's definitely exciting. It's amazing when you see the first half of the year, and it's just so negative. There was nothing much positive going on, and so your mind can start to go other places. But I want to win here. My best friends are here, my teammates are here. We want to win here, and I want to win here. I've said that the whole time when I got asked these questions, that's my main focus -- winning with this group. And it's very, very exciting to see how far we've come.”

 

The Dallas Stars’ shootout victory Tuesday eliminated the Canucks from the wildcard playoff race despite Vancouver improving to 31-15-9 under Boudreau with a 5-2 win against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena.

 

The damage the Canucks inflicted to themselves by starting the season 8-15-2 under Benning and former coach Travis Green was simply too great to survive.

 

“You have to start on time, and I mean that in the sense of a season and a game,” Miller said. “It really shows that you can't take off a quarter of the season. I think we've showed how hard it is to play catch up. We were top-10 team in the league from then on, a two-to-one ratio in wins and losses. I also think it's important to find your identity as a team, and I think we have. We know what works.”

 

Miller said the Canucks’ mid-season regime change doesn’t change his feeling of loyalty.

 

“I don't know Jim (Rutherford, the Canucks new president) and Patrik very well yet, so that's different,” he said. “But I've gotten to know Bruce over the last little bit here and the relationship is great. I'm always going to be loyal to the organization, no matter who is here. It's different people that brought me in to what it is now, but that doesn't change things for me. I'm still trying to play the same way, trying to earn everything that I get.

 

“You can see how far we’ve come. We're a proud group here and we feel good about what we've done. We've come a long way.”

 

Miller, too.

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/after-an-emergent-season-j-t-millers-main-focus-is-winning-with-the-canucks/

[-DLC-]

 

"and my two biggest fans, deb  and @bishopshodan are here, so...."

[bishopshodan]

13 minutes ago, -DLC- said:

 

"and my two biggest fans, deb  and @bishopshodan are here, so...."

Nice!

 

That's good to read

[Alflives]

52 minutes ago, -DLC- said:

 

"and my two biggest fans, deb  and @bishopshodan are here, so...."

Guys on 650 today saying we are very close to extending Bruce Boudreau.  Likely news on Monday before players’ exit meetings.

That certainty of Boudreau coming back should help with getting Miller signed.  

[JM_]

16 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Guys on 650 today saying we are very close to extending Bruce Boudreau.  Likely news on Monday before players’ exit meetings.

That certainty of Boudreau coming back should help with getting Miller signed.  

sure sounds like a guy that wants to be here. How often have we moaned about top players not wanting to be here? and so many folks want to put this guy on the 1st bus out of town. 

[Ballisticsports.]

48 minutes ago, JM_ said:

sure sounds like a guy that wants to be here. How often have we moaned about top players not wanting to be here? and so many folks want to put this guy on the 1st bus out of town. 

It sounds like he could be staying for several reasons

He seems to have enjoyed the opportunity given here

Probably won't get a better contract signing elsewhere

I am sure Management will be inquiring what they can do for $ and term to sign him

If that can't be worked out, (no fault on either sides) I wouldn't expect management to go through next year with him on the team, even at a bargain 1 yr contract remaining with all the constant questions and disruptions it would cause

If Miller hasn't renegotiated his contract in the summer, I think we may not see him in a Canuck uniform again

[Coconuts]

29 minutes ago, ba;;isticsports said:

It sounds like he could be staying for several reasons

He seems to have enjoyed the opportunity given here

Probably won't get a better contract signing elsewhere

I am sure Management will be inquiring what they can do for $ and term to sign him

If that can't be worked out, (no fault on either sides) I wouldn't expect management to go through next year with him on the team, even at a bargain 1 yr contract remaining with all the constant questions and disruptions it would cause

If Miller hasn't renegotiated his contract in the summer, I think we may not see him in a Canuck uniform again

From Miller's end it doesn't make sense for this not to be handled before the end of the summer. After the season he's had it's him and his agent holding the hammer in negotiations, it wouldn't make sense for him not to cash in on a career year if he plans on extending. I've had people ask me whether this is true, but aside from giving him what he wants the only real options the Canucks have are going into next season with him unsigned, creating an ongoing media/fan headache in the process, trading him, or letting him walk as a free agent next summer. Miller's side has the leverage. 

 

The Canucks can't afford to lose him for nothing, and likely wouldn't want the distraction that retaining an unsigned Miller would create. Obviously both sides would be negotiating, but Miller's side is the one with the leverage at this point. He could simply just wait a year and walk if Vancouver's offers aren't to his liking. 

[Devron]

Gonna be an interesting summer. Looking forward to closing this chapter and having Miller signed. I’m tired of the crap. Miller doesn’t wanna be here. He’s gonna walk. Blah blah blah 

[JM_]

12 hours ago, ba;;isticsports said:

 

If Miller hasn't renegotiated his contract in the summer, I think we may not see him in a Canuck uniform again

 

11 hours ago, Coconuts said:

 

The Canucks can't afford to lose him for nothing, and likely wouldn't want the distraction that retaining an unsigned Miller would create. Obviously both sides would be negotiating, but Miller's side is the one with the leverage at this point. He could simply just wait a year and walk if Vancouver's offers aren't to his liking. 

I don't think its unique that a teams best upcoming free agents have leverage, but its not total. Miller has no trade protection and if e.g., the Canucks really are set on moving him, retaining 1/2 his salary makes him an unreal bargain for any team, so there's uncertainly there for him.  And then there's always the risk of him having a down season. 

 

He doesn't sound like a guy thats looking to move on, so we'll see how it all shakes. 

[Alflives]

4 minutes ago, JM_ said:

 

I don't think its unique that a teams best upcoming free agents have leverage, but its not total. Miller has no trade protection and if e.g., the Canucks really are set on moving him, retaining 1/2 his salary makes him an unreal bargain for any team, so there's uncertainly there for him.  And then there's always the risk of him having a down season. 

 

He doesn't sound like a guy thats looking to move on, so we'll see how it all shakes. 

What does trading Miller do to team morale?  The guys went through the loss of key leaders after the Bubble and it’s taken 2 years to recover. 

I think we need to re-sign Miller at any cost.  Can’t afford not to.

To get the cap room to sign Miller means we either let Boeser (his value is maybe a mid rounder) walk or trade Garland for futures.  We cannot, in either circumstance, take back money.  

[JM_]

2 minutes ago, Alflives said:

What does trading Miller do to team morale?  The guys went through the loss of key leaders after the Bubble and it’s taken 2 years to recover. 

I think we need to re-sign Miller at any cost.  Can’t afford not to.

lowers it, for sure. 

 

2 minutes ago, Alflives said:

To get the cap room to sign Miller means we either let Boeser (his value is maybe a mid rounder) walk or trade Garland for futures.  We cannot, in either circumstance, take back money.  

I just hope JR can find a way to jettison Pearson and Dickie at least, which would get us to ~17.6 mil to resign some cheap depth (Lammikko, Highmore, Richardson, Lockwood), room for Martin and maybe a cheap veteran backup goalie, and then leaves around 10-11 mil for either Brock or whoever Brock is traded for and some cap room.

 

[Alflives]

1 minute ago, JM_ said:

lowers it, for sure. 

 

I just hope JR can find a way to jettison Pearson and Dickie at least, which would get us to ~17.6 mil to resign some cheap depth (Lammikko, Highmore, Richardson, Lockwood), room for Martin and maybe a cheap veteran backup goalie, and then leaves around 10-11 mil for either Brock or whoever Brock is traded for and some cap room.

 

Got to be moves that clear cap.  Do any guys out need to have less cap (preferably nothing) coming back.  Can’t do a “Benning” and trade high picks for guys like Schmidt or Dickinson.  No money in; only out.  Fill holes with youth and cheap UFAs.  

[JM_]

1 minute ago, Alflives said:

Got to be moves that clear cap.  Do any guys out need to have less cap (preferably nothing) coming back.  Can’t do a “Benning” and trade high picks for guys like Schmidt or Dickinson.  No money in; only out.  Fill holes with youth and cheap UFAs.  

nice bonus to this season is it looks like Podz has a real chance at top 6 time next year, so thats huge.

 

But yes, no more juicers or miscast C's, even for 3rds. 

[Coconuts]

1 hour ago, JM_ said:

 

I don't think its unique that a teams best upcoming free agents have leverage, but its not total. Miller has no trade protection and if e.g., the Canucks really are set on moving him, retaining 1/2 his salary makes him an unreal bargain for any team, so there's uncertainly there for him.  And then there's always the risk of him having a down season. 

 

He doesn't sound like a guy thats looking to move on, so we'll see how it all shakes. 

Nah, it's not unique, but it's definitely where he sits. And we could absolutely get assets for him, in fact I hope we do. 

 

What he sounds like and what he's willing to take in a deal could be different things. I don't want to leave the island, but if the costs of living continue to climb forever I'll likely never be able to afford a house here. We'll see. 

[JM_]

3 minutes ago, Coconuts said:

Nah, it's not unique, but it's definitely where he sits. And we could absolutely get assets for him, in fact I hope we do. 

 

What he sounds like and what he's willing to take in a deal could be different things. I don't want to leave the island, but if the costs of living continue to climb forever I'll likely never be able to afford a house here. We'll see. 

its a nice problem to have imo, unlike the housing crisis. 

[Boudrias]

How does Miller fit if Petey takes the 1C spot?  If he wants to play center then he drops to 3C as Bo has 2C. How much will Petey cost in 3 years? 

[MrCanuck94]

19 minutes ago, Boudrias said:

How does Miller fit if Petey takes the 1C spot?  If he wants to play center then he drops to 3C as Bo has 2C. How much will Petey cost in 3 years? 

Bo would be 3C, not Miller.

[Phil_314]

45 minutes ago, Boudrias said:

How does Miller fit if Petey takes the 1C spot?  If he wants to play center then he drops to 3C as Bo has 2C. How much will Petey cost in 3 years? 

In the same amount of games, Miller has 30 more points than Petey (has basically as many assists as Petey has points).  No way he should bump Miller down, when they have chemistry playing together (them on the same line would be pretty lethal).  Also, of the 3 C's you listed, Horvat drops down the lineup, not either of the other two.

[J-P]

1 hour ago, Phil_314 said:

In the same amount of games, Miller has 30 more points than Petey (has basically as many assists as Petey has points).  No way he should bump Miller down, when they have chemistry playing together (them on the same line would be pretty lethal).  Also, of the 3 C's you listed, Horvat drops down the lineup, not either of the other two.

EP the first half of the season is not the same player as EP the second half. Which version of him we see next season remains to be seen of course (I'm hoping he takes the next step both in PPG and defensively).

 

If you have 3 centers good enough to be 1C and the cap overall still works, then that's not a problem and it doesn't matter which one you label 1C, 2C, 3C.

[Locke Lamora]

On 4/29/2022 at 10:29 AM, MrCanuck94 said:

Bo would be 3C, not Miller.

JT should be a winger.