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Canucks: J.T. Miller’s 3 biggest accomplishments of 2019-20

By Brayden Ursel

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 29: J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks skates up ice with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 29, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canucks 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 29: J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks skates up ice with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 29, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canucks 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller proved to the NHL that he’s the perfect two-way player. Here are three accomplishments this year that raised his game to the next level.

Ever since the close of the Vancouver Canucks’ 2018-19 season, general manager Jim Benning knew he needed to bulk up the team’s top-six with a nice mixture of size, speed, defensive skill and scoring ability. Look no further than J.T. Miller. The 27-year-old American winger has all the right tools to fit the bill and he proved that this year in his first season as a Canucks player.

Fresh off a 47-point season playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the rights to Miller was acquired during the offseason via trade. Targetted by Benning to be immediately injected into the top-six, Miller would be placed alongside the team’s most serious talent in an effort to bring up his points per game as well as the overall point production of players around him.

His very presence in the lineup didn’t go unnoticed. Miller racked up big points early and found chemistry with whoever he was slotted to play with. Quickly he became a leader in the locker room and a better first-man on the ice. His 200-foot game only grew as the season wore on and by the time COVID-19 paused the sports world, Miller was on top of the Canucks’ scoring race and well on his way to an 80+ point campaign.

His first of four seasons in Vancouver was a complete success. He gelled well with star forward Elias Pettersson, he showed Jake Virtanen how to be a better power forward, and he played a key role in special teams having a spot on the roster for both the first unit power play and at times the penalty kill as well. Let’s dive into Miller’s three biggest accomplishments this season.

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