New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller faces the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday for the first time since his January trade, anticipating an emotional return to Rogers Arena after 5½ seasons with the team. Miller, who amassed 437 points in 404 games for Vancouver, emphasized focusing on his current squad despite fond memories and family ties. The Rangers enter with a 3-5-2 record, while the Canucks sit at 5-5-0.
J.T. Miller's return to Rogers Arena marks his first visit since being traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers on Jan. 31. The 32-year-old center played 5½ seasons in Vancouver after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2019 NHL Draft, recording 437 points (152 goals, 285 assists) in 404 games. He helped the Canucks reach Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Edmonton Oilers in 2023-24.
Miller described the homecoming as emotional, citing good memories, friendships with former teammates, and the city's warm treatment of his family. "It's going to be emotional for me, no doubt," Miller said after Tuesday's morning skate. "A lot of good memories here. Some of my best friends still play on the other side. The way the city treated myself and my family, it's something we'll never forget."
His wife and two daughters joined him in Vancouver, adding to the sentiment. Miller spent Monday catching up with former teammates, including Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury and considered day-to-day. "No doubt, especially with my family here," Miller added. "I'm trying to stay so focused right now, but I understand there's going to be some distractions."
The trade followed a rocky end to his tenure, including a 10-game personal leave and a confirmed rift with center Elias Pettersson, cited by Canucks president Jim Rutherford as a factor. Miller has previously faced Vancouver since the deal, scoring a goal and assist in a 5-3 Rangers win on March 22. Pettersson downplayed the matchup: "I played against him last year too."
Miller insisted his priority remains helping the Rangers, who are 3-5-2 and coming off a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames—their third straight defeat (0-2-1) on a four-game road trip. The Canucks snapped a three-game skid with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Oilers on Sunday. "You can't go back and change anything," Miller said of the trade. "Obviously, it's ugly sometimes at the end, but I think for the majority of the time I was here it's been all positive."
