Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller is inching closer to rejoining the team following his indefinite leave of absence.
TSN insider Darren Dreger shared a new update on Monday appearing on the “Sekeres & Price” show, reporting that Miller is expected to practice with the team on Wednesday.
Dreger, however, made clear that the timing of his full return and his reappearance in a game remains entirely up to him.
“It’s been expected that J.T. Miller would eventually make his return to the Vancouver Canucks,” Dreger said. “The good news is they are targeting Wednesday where he will practice. That’s the expectation.
“Beyond that, though, as you would expect, the organization is going to entirely leave it up to J.T. to decide when he’s ready to jump back into the league and back into the Canucks lineup on a full-time basis.”
The Canucks have rallied in Miller’s absence, posting a 5-3-1 record. For the season, Vancouver boasts a 14-8-4 record for 32 total points while sitting third in the Pacific Division.
Miller, a cornerstone of the team since his arrival in 2019, has been the subject of trade rumors since his leave began on Nov. 19. However, Canucks president Jim Rutherford dismissed such speculation as disrespectful and unfounded.
“Don’t start making stuff up on someone in his situation. That’s disrespectful,” Rutherford said on Dec. 4. “People that do this for fun, or for a living, just go back to making up trade rumors.”
Miller, who signed a seven-year, $56 million contract in 2022, remains a vital piece of the Canucks’ core. Despite playing just 17 games this season, he has tallied 16 points ranking sixth among his teammates on that front.