Elliotte Friedman gives a date for JT Miller's return to the Canucks

UPDATE: NHL insider Elliotte Friedman speculated in his latest column that Vancouver Canucks forward JT Miller could return to the team after their upcoming road trip ending December 3rd.

From Friedman's latest 32 Thoughts column:

Wishing JT Miller the best; don’t expect to see him until the Canucks return from a six-game road trip ending Dec. 3 at the earliest. It appears as if this is as much about “burnout” as anything else for one of the NHL’s most fiery players. 

- Elliotte Friedman

Read below for our earlier report on Miller published by Hockey Feed staff writer Chris Gosselin.

On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks announced that veteran forward J.T. Miller will be away from the team on an indefinite leave of absence due to personal reasons. The team did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding Miller’s absence, though the Canucks made clear that he has their full support.

Of course, fans and pundits were going to speculate. And speculation quickly began when Miller’s wife Natalie deleted his Instagram account moments after the Canucks made the announcement on her husband’s leave of absence. It quickly got out of hand when fans started spreading the rumour that Miller’s wife had been having an extramarital affair and was the reason why the forward needed time off the ice.

Patrick Johnston of the Province had to step in, explaining how Natalie Miller “deleted her Instagram account but that was just to avoid the crush of nonsensical comments and direct messages that would cascade in at a time like this.”

But fans have scrutinized the move with some searching for her last posts. Five days ago, Natalie Miller had taken part in the trend of “We’re almost in 2025, but I’ve loved you since…” and posted how she was in love with Miller since 2008 and shared this photo.

Fans went wild with the post earlier this week as Natalie appears to be pregnant with a hand over her belly. She had to comment on the post, telling everyone to calm down and that it was an old picture. Miller and his wife has been married since 2016 and have tow daughters, Scotlyn and Scarlett, and a young son Owen Edward.

Many insiders of the team have been protective of Miller and have reminded fans that he needs privacy at this time. Hours after the Canucks made the announcement that Miller would be away from the team, Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal reported that Miller had left for a “reset” and that he just needs some “time and space.” He also targeted the ongoing rumours of problems in the Miller’s marriage calling it nonsense.

Currently in his sixth season in Vancouver and his 13th in the NHL, Miller is a huge asset to the Canucks and his absence will be tough to deal with. He has registered 16 points including six goals in the first 17 games this season.

Let’s hope he gets the re-set he needs and everyone in his family can have the privacy needed to go through this.