Vancouver Canucks Reporter Raises Important Questions About J.T. Miller's Status

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Cooper Godin
November 19, 2024 (6:00 PM)

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A Vancouver Canucks insider believes that forward J.T. Miller is playing through an injury right now amid his struggles and benching by Rick Tocchet on Sunday night.

J.T. Miller has had a big of a rough go in the scoring department over the last few weeks. In his last ten games, the East Palestine, Ohio native has registered just two goals, along with seven assists.

A tough game on Sunday night saw J.T. Miller glued to the bench by head coach Rick Tocchet for the majority of the third period, skating in just 1:39 of the final frame.

Rick Tocchet told reporters after the game that he wanted to have his best players out there and shot down a question about J.T. Miller's health, asking if he was injured.

While Tocchet said no, could it just be a cover up and the Canucks forward is actually dealing with an ailment? One Vancouver Canucks insider believes that may be the case.

Rick Dhaliwal believes J.T. Miller is playing through an injury

During Monday's edition of Donnie & Dhali, Rick Dhaliwal said that he believes Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller has a lingering injury and that he's not 100 percent. Dhaliwal added that some think it has to do with Miller's shoulder or something around there.

"It is very clear that he's got a lingering injury, he is not 100 percent. Some think it's a shoulder injury, in that area. We are not seeing the difference making Miller." Dhaliwal said.

He later went on to add, "Look, something's wrong with J.T. Miller. If he's hurt though, sit him...you just played the two worst teams in the National Hockey League. You had to score two empty net goals to defeat the Blackhawks. You played the two worst teams in the league, you're telling me you can't beat them without Miller? If he's got an injury, upper-body, in the neck or shoulder area, then you know what? Sit the guy, get him 100 percent healthy."

Miller didn't play at all during the preseason due to an injury concern that wasn't deemed as too serious. So for Rick Dhaliwal to say that Miller may be dealing with an injury, it makes sense and it would be interesting to see if it's relating to what he was working through in the preseason and training camp.

Overall, it hasn't been a horrible season for J.T. Miller. He's nearly a point-per-game player in 2024-25, sitting at 16 points (six goals, ten assists) in 17 games.

He'll look to turn things around on the goal scoring front tonight against his former club and the team that drafted him back in 2011 - the New York Rangers. Puck drop is set for 7 pm PT.