Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Slams J.T. Miller in the Media After Rough Performance Against L.A Kings
Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks began a three-game homestand on Thursday night and it was a tough game for forward J.T. Miller, who got called out afterwards by his coach.
Vancouver was back at Rogers Arena on Thursday night following a tough five-game road trip which saw them win just one game and while the team was hoping to turn things around against the Kings, the exact opposite happened.
Led by a three-point performance from Alex Turcotte, the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 5-1, furthering the gap between the two teams in the Western Conference standings.
For J.T. Miller, who's name is out there on the trade market, he was looking to bounce back after tallying the two lowest ice time totals of the season in recent games.
J.T. Miller called out by Rick Tocchet following Thursday's loss to the Kings
Nearly halfway through the first period, the Los Angeles Kings scored their second goal and it was well noted that on the play, J.T. Miller's effort level when trying to defend wasn't good enough.
Miller loses a battle to Kevin Fiala, doesn't stick with him and then the Kings forward throws the puck on net from the blueline, where it's picked up by Alex Turcotte for his second of the night.
Right after the goal, Sportsnet's cameras spotted Rick Tocchet talking to J.T. Miller, telling him to go sit at the end of the bench.
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet called out J.T. Miller post-game when meeting with the media, saying that it feels like bad things happen when the American forward is on the ice.
"He's struggling. He's caught in between. You know, it seems like every time he's on the ice, something bad happens.
I think he's got some bad luck, but he's also got some reads that he's got to - big pause - he's got to look at himself right now and focus on some of these reads.
You can't dive in on the four-on-four, things like that. I think he's trying, [but] sometimes the focus level has to get a little higher." Tocchet said according to Tyson Cole of Canucks Army.
I think he's got some bad luck, but he's also got some reads that he's got to - big pause - he's got to look at himself right now and focus on some of these reads.
You can't dive in on the four-on-four, things like that. I think he's trying, [but] sometimes the focus level has to get a little higher." Tocchet said according to Tyson Cole of Canucks Army.
With the National Hockey League's trade deadline less than 50 days away, it's going to be very interesting to see if J.T. Miller is still apart of the Vancouver Canucks organization after 12 pm PT on Friday, March 7th.
It wouldn't be shocking whatsoever to see J.T. Miller moved at this point, some fans believe he's "checked out" already and is just awaiting a trade, but the 31-year-old won't give up that easy, as we've seen since he joined the organization in 2019.
Miller and the Canucks will be back in action tomorrow as part of Hockey Day in Canada as they host the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena for a 7 pm PT puck drop.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 17 | 532 ANSWERS Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Slams J.T. Miller in the Media After Rough Performance Against L.A Kings Do you think Rick Tocchet should make J.T. Miller a healthy scratch for tomorrow's game against the Edmonton Oilers? | ||
| Yes | 197 | 37 % |
| No | 335 | 63 % |
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