Vincent Desharnais' Dislike For J.T. Miller Played a Major Role in Him Signing With the Vancouver Canucks

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Maverick Mitchell
November 7, 2024 (6:28 PM)

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New Vancouver Canucks defenseman Vincent Desharnais sat down to disclose how hard of a transition it has been coming from the Edmonton Oilers and how J.T. Miller was a major reason for him wanting to join the Canucks.

In a lot of way the Vancouver Canucks look like a new team this season, they got rid of names like Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm, and added players such as Kiefer Sherwood, Kevin Lankinen and Vincent Desharnais. Some may overlook the fact that athletes are people too, but they deal with the same issues we do, and moving your entire life when traded or signed can be a difficult transition to navigate.

After spending his entire 8-year career apart of the Edmonton Oilers organization, the massive right-shot d-man put pen to paper on two-year, $4 million deal with the Canucks this offseason. Known as a physical, stay at home defenseman, he was eager to jump right into with the team and help them win, but the transition has been harder than expected.

Vincent Desharnais Talks About the Difficulties of Joining the Vancouver Canucks

Now, to preface, the difficulties of joining the Canucks has nothing to do with the team itself, but just joining a complexly new environment after spending an entire career in one city and with one team. It does not matter how old you are, the challenges of a new town, new routines and faces is never easy to adjust too.

"It's a new team, everyone is new, it's a new building, it's a new apartment, your whole life is new," said Desharnais. I moved with my clothes, and that's pretty much it. I gotta basically relearn everything that I was doing for the last; I mean, I was part of the Edmonton organization for eight years. The systems and just the daily life. You're so used to it, and then you wake up one morning, it's all over, and you've got to restart all over again. It's definitely a little bit of an adjustment. Some days are a little bit harder. Some days, you're missing your comfort spots and your comfort levels, but it's one day at a time. These guys have been really good at helping me out. The coaching staff, Footer (Adam Foote) has been really good at showing me small details to help my game. My goal is just to get better every day. I want to help this team win."

Vincent Desharnais Reveals How J.T. Miller Played a Major Part in Him Signing With the Vancouver Canucks

Desharnais disclosed that after he and Miller had some intense back and fourths last season during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Miller always found a way to consistently annoy him and get under his skin. Now, he jokes around saying while sitting on the Canucks bench, he now gets to have fun watching other player's get frustrated with his skill and antics.

"It's great to see other teams getting frustrated, and we always kind of chuckle on the bench. I'm like, thank God I don't have to deal with those guys anymore. It fits my style of play, where I don't think I'm really fun to play against. That's a goal, and that's why I think J.T. (Miller) and I didn't get along on the ice last year in the playoffs. We didn't like each other one bit. We have kind of the same kind of f--- you mentality. I think a lot of the team has the same mentality. I think we can go a long way with that f---you mentality for sure."

Desharnais has been in and out of the lineup for the Canucks this season, but as they season rolls along, and get more comfortable, fans hope he gets back into tip top shape.