JT Miller says he’s trying to stay focused on his next game with the Vancouver Canucks despite trade rumors that would send him to the New York Rangers.
“I don’t get involved in that,” the center said after collecting two assists in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. “I plan to be a Canuck today and tomorrow. What happens will happen. I’m focusing on the next match. »
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that the Canucks were close to trading Miller to New York and had considered taking him out of the lineup for Saturday’s game against Edmonton, but the deal fell through. took place.
“I don’t know if anything’s coming,” Miller said. “I just want to concentrate on the match. It’s probably a good thing to play the Oilers tonight, and to have a game to play, to try to keep myself focused. »
Miller is in his sixth season with Vancouver, having been acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 22, 2019. He signed a seven-year, $56 million contract ($8 million per year on average) on September 2, 2022 with the Canucks after recording 99 points (32 goals, 67 assists) in 2021-22, an NHL career high. He had 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists) last season and has 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 35 games this season.
He took a personal leave of absence on November 19 and returned to action on December 12 after missing 10 games. In addition to his two assists on Saturday, Miller won 18 of his 23 faceoffs (78.3%).
“I’m playing tonight and I really wish we’d stay away from the reasons I wasn’t here,” Miller said upon his return to action in December. “I’m not going to delve into why I wasn’t here the last three or four weeks. So I’m here with the team and I’m ready to look to the future rather than what happened in the past. »
The 31-year-old American began his NHL career with the Rangers after being selected by New York in the first round (15th) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played six full or partial seasons with the Rangers, with whom he reached the Stanley Cup final in 2014. He was traded to Tampa Bay when the Rangers began a rebuild on February 26, 2018.
-Canucks captain Quinn Hughes said he was aware of the rumors surrounding Miller.
“It’s part of my job to be aware of these kinds of things and have a good idea of what’s going on,” the defender said. “But still, I thought everyone played extraordinary, especially ‘Millsy’. I thought he was extremely competitive in the way he played against that line (McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman), especially in the third period. He’s a competitor, and it’s great to see. »
“He has shown over the last six years that he is a guy who will always fight, respond and play with a lot of passion, a lot of attention. And you know when McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl, two of the three best players in the world, are in town, he’s going to be ready to play. He wants to take on the challenge and he’s ready to do it, as you saw tonight. »
The Canucks (20-15-10) are one point behind the Calgary Flames and the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Rangers (22-20-3) are three points out of fourth place in the East. They’ve already made two big trades this season, sending captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks and forward Kaapo Kakko, the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, to the Seattle Kraken.
Asked Saturday if it was harder to concentrate on his game, Miller said, “I don’t really know what to say, to be honest. I don’t have a good answer to give you. I just try to stay focused from one game to the next. I know it’s annoying to hear, but it’s true. »
Contributed by independent NHL.com correspondent Kevin Woodley
