Tocchet explains why Miller's ice-time has been down for Vancouver Canucks
J.T. Miller has been recording some of his fewest minutes for the Vancouver Canucks over the last few games.
The 31-year-old didn’t reach the 15-minute mark in the team’s last two contests on their most recent road trip. That was only the second and third time it’s happened this season, the other coming when he was benched against the Nashville Predators.
Some have guessed that Miller is battling through an injury right now, something that Rick Tocchet refuted this morning.
“He’s not hurt,” Tocchet told reporters.
So why are his minutes down?
“I think it’s just the way we’re made up right now…we’re playing more four lines, and I think it’s helped our team not give the other team as many shots, try to stay in the game. But he wants to play better, he knows it.”
Miller started the most recent road trip with his best performance of the season, recording four points against the Montreal Canadiens. However, he didn’t get another point for the rest of the trip, and his ice time took a nosedive.
Along with not getting on the scoresheet, Miller recently hasn’t always been that emotional leader the Canucks have come to expect.
“It’s tough. Guys like that want to play on the edge, so he’s trying to temper it; he doesn’t want to take dumb penalties, things like that. He’s at his best when he’s driving play.”
When asked about his minutes decreasing, Miller wasn’t as conclusive with his answer.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Probably could play a little better, I don’t know.”
It’s been an eventful year for the Ohio native. He stepped away from the team for some time, and when he was in the lineup, his play was up and down. He’s got 29 points in 33 games, far off the 103 points he got last season.
Canucks shake up lines looking for offence
The Canucks ran 31st in the NHL in goals-per-game since the calendar flipped to 2025. They’re struggling to get the puck in the net, and therefore, Tocchet made some adjustments to the lines at today’s morning skate.
The forwards were as follows:
DeBrusk – Pettersson – Lekkerimäki
Di Giuseppe – Miller – Boeser
Heinen – Suter – Garland
Höglander – Blueger – Sherwood
Sasson
The biggest change is young sniper Jonathan Lekkerimäki being put on the first line alongside Elias Pettersson. The winger has two goals in his NHL career thus far and will have a great opportunity on that line.
The defence skated as follows.
Hughes – Hronek
Forbort – Myers
Soucy – Desharnais
Brisebois
Noah Juulsen didn’t skate today and is banged up, per Tocchet. He’s a game-time decision.