Canucks’ Tocchet: ‘Every time Miller is on the ice, something bad happens’

The Vancouver Canucks need more from J.T. Miller.

In the midst of the Western Conference’s playoff race, and one season removed from pacing the squad and finishing ninth league-wide with 103 points, Miller’s game has taken a dip in 2024-25.

“He is struggling. He is caught in between. It seems like every time he is on the ice, something bad happens,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said following Thursday’s 5-1 home ice loss to the Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Kings. “I think he has some bad luck, but he also has some reads that he has to look at himself right now, focus on some of these reads. I mean, you can’t dive in on a four-on-four, things like that. I think he is trying, but I think the focus level has to get a little higher.”

Against the Kings, Miller was held pointless and posted a minus-two rating in 14:34 of ice time, with just over nine minutes of that total coming at even strength, the lowest amongst all Canucks forwards. It also marked the 16th time in 2024-25 in which Miller has been held without a point.

On the season, Miller has made 34 appearances in which he has registered eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points, a significant dip from his career-high 103-point finish with Vancouver a year ago. A veteran of 833 career contests counting stops with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Canucks, the 31-year-old has tallied 246 goals with 422 assists for 668 points.

Alongside Canucks teammate Elias Pettersson, Miller has been the subject of scrutiny this season in Vancouver. Whether the Canucks seek a roster revamp prior to the March 7 NHL trade deadline could be determined by the players’ respective contracts. For Miller, the veteran forward is in the second year of a seven-year pact that currently carries an $8-million annual average value and a full no-movement clause, per PuckPedia.

Following Thursday’s loss to the Kings, the Canucks sit 19-15-10 and one point back of the Calgary Flames for the second wildcard position in the Western Conference. Vancouver will look to rebound when it returns to the ice Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.