Jeff Marker floats surprising notion about Canucks' J.T. Miller possibly ending NHL career

The Vancouver Canucks have been without the services of forward J.T. Miller for the last several games now, as he's taken a personal leave of absence from the team with no date in sight for a return.

Before he departed the team, he had scored six goals and 10 assists in just seven games played.

While making an appearance on the "Down to Irf" podcast, NHL analyst Jeff Marek suggested that not only is J.T. Miller a tough athlete, but that he'd also be strong enough to walk away from the game if needed to.

"I don't really care if he comes back and plays hockey as long as he's okay. If that means that he doesn't ever play hockey again but that he's healthy and his family is healthy, then great."

"I will say one thing, to me it is really encouraging that it is someone like J.T. Miller who has taken this step away," he said. "J.T. Miller is a tough hockey player, like how many teams around the NHL would love to have J.T. Miller or someone exactly like them? All of them. Plays any way you want, he's tough and doesn't cheat the game."

Marek went on to describe Miller as a "tough" player, the kind that other NHL clubs wish they had on their roster.

A native of Ohio, he was selected with the 15th overall pick in 2011 by the New York Rangers, with whom he played the first handful of seasons of his career.

After later playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, in June of 2019, he was traded to the Canucks, with whom he's enjoyed the best years of his career production-wise. Last season, he scored a career-high 37 goals and 66 assists for 103 points.

In September of 2022, he signed a seven-year, $56 million deal to remain a member of the Canucks for the foreseeable future.

While no details have been released about what Miller is dealing with, it's clearly substantial enough for him to take a leave of absence from the team.

Additionally, he's playing in just the second year of a hefty seven-year contract that carries a considerable AAV of $8 million.

J.T. Miller is one of the most valuable players on the Canucks

If Miller were lost for an extended period of time, or even as Marek suggested for good, it would be a significant blow to the Canucks.

Prior to his leave of absence, he was on pace to score 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points.

Not only does Miller provide a scoring touch, but he's also proven himself to be an invaluable leader for the Canucks.