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Canucks’ Tocchet Dumps on Team and 'Checked Out' J.T. Miller

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Jan 17, 2025 12:55 PM ET

It’s crystal clear that something with the Vancouver Canucks is not right. A couple of games where things started to turn in their favor came to a crashing halt on Thursday as the team lost 5-1 at home to the Los Angeles Kings. It was an embarrassing showing, with players making several mistakes and bad reads, including J.T. Miller, who is catching much of the negative attention surrounding the team. Claims that Miller has checked out and no longer wants to be a Canucks are out. Is it true?

“Yeah, he’s struggling. He’s caught in between. Seems like every time he’s on the ice, something bad happens.” Tocchet said about Miller after the game. He added that Miller appears to be trying, but his reads have been off, and he’s putting himself in vulnerable positions. Calling some of it bad luck, the coach noted, “I think he’s got to look at himself right now and focus on some of these reads.”

This comes after an interview that Miller did with the media where it was clear he wasn’t interested in answering questions or taking a look at himself and what he was doing wrong. When asked about why his ice time is going down, he snarkily responded, “Ya, I don’t know… probably play a little better. I don’t know. What do you want me to say?” When asked why he hasn’t been as emotional lately, “That’s probably for you guys to interpret. I’m not really conscious of it.”

Sportsnet also showed an exchange between Tocchet and Miller on the Canucks’ bench after the Kings scored their fourth goal in the game on Thursday night. Tocchet said something to Miller, who never looked at the coach, got up, and walked down to the end of the bench.

Miller changed his tune a bit after the game. He said, “It’s hard. I’m trying to be mentally strong. It doesn’t matter what I do, I’m on the wrong side right now. It’s on me. I’m a leader on the team, and the team expects a lot better than this.”

Miller and the Canucks Have to Get Checked Back In

Something is not right, that much is clear. And, it doesn’t look like the solution is going to come internally. Miller seems to have all but given up. He’s seeing his minutes lowered, he’s not responding to the coach or being called out by the media.

Rick Dhaliwal lost his cool a bit in a recent show about people claiming Miller is “checked out”. He contends that Miller is injured and not 100%. “He cares. He wears his heart on his sleeve,” said Dhaliwal. Don Taylor wasn’t buying it. He didn’t see Miller as a guy giving his all on every second of every game. “Conor Garland does, I’ll give him that,” said Taylor.

Tocchet told reporters late Thursday. “You can’t quit on yourself or your teammates. If you’re in this business long enough, you’re going to get these situations. Character guys, leadership, all that stuff usually comes out of it, so we’re looking for those type of people right now.”

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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