Canucks GM Speaks Out on JT Miller Rumors
In recent weeks, the rumor mill has churned around the Vancouver Canucks, specifically on the future of top forward JT Miller, who is currently away from the team on a personal leave.
But the trade rumors around his star player aren't sitting well with Canucks president Jim Rutherford. He told a local Vancouver insider, in no uncertain terms, that the "salacious speculation about Miller" is disrespectful and must be stopped.
Rutherford on Miller trade rumurs : “No, we are not (trading him),” Rutherford said flatly. “We stand by him.”
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) December 4, 2024
“No, we are not (trading him),” Rutherford said, frankly. “We stand by him.”
He says the player has not asked for a trade, and then went on to blast reporters who have used Miller's name in speculation while the player deals with personal issues.
Jim Rutherford on JT Miller rumours to Patrick Johnston : “Don’t start making stuff up on someone in his situation. That’s disrespectful,” he said. “People that do this for fun, or for a living, just go back to making up trade rumours.”
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) December 4, 2024
“Don’t start making stuff up on someone in his situation (being on a personal leave). That’s disrespectful,” he told Patrick Johnson in the Vancouver Province. “People that do this for fun, or for a living, (they should) just go back to making up trade rumours.”
Miller was benched in the third period of a game a few weeks back, and a couple of days later announced that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.
As Johnson notes, "The focus for the player is to get himself mentally back to where he was. That’s all. When he’s going to be back, Rutherford doesn’t know. The ball is in Miller’s court."
Miller posted his first 100-point season last year, with 37 goals and 66 assists for 103 points. He had six goals and 16 points in 17 games thus far this season.
Photo: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
