Canucks GM finally addresses rumors behind JT Miller's personal leave

“From my experience, you use it to your advantage,” Tocchet said of the emotional aspect of Boeser’s return. “But we still have to stay (with) the identity of our team. We played a really smart hockey game in Ottawa (4-3 win on Saturday). Things don't change because Brock comes in, or we start getting guys back. We've got to stay with identity, so that's really the message.”

While talking about the team's lineup, Allvin was also asked about veteran forward JT Miller's absence from the team. Without revealing too much, Allvin seemed to indicate that Miller is working through mental health difficulties and that he's proud of him for putting his health first.

“First and foremost, I'm very proud of J.T. seeking help,” Allvin said. “I don't know if he said it, but I believe that he's going to be a better person, better teammate and better hockey player when he returns. And we sure miss him; he's such an impactful hockey player. I think we have and the league has all the right support to help him.”

As for Tocchet... it's clear that he's missing Miller, a player with a reputation for being a coach's dream.