In what was an already busy Tuesday morning with Vancouver Canucks news, Rick Tocchet addressed the media after morning skate to discuss the recent news of JT Miller. Tocchet also shared a little tidbit as to why forward Conor Garland did not partake.

“Anytime something like that happens, you just deal with things,” Miller replied when asked if today’s news caught him off guard. “That’s what we do. We’re hockey players; we’re hockey coaches; we deal with certain things. Garland might have a baby today. So, whether he plays tonight, we’ll deal with it. There’s thing’s that come up during the season that you deal with.”

It sounds like the Canucks forward is in jeopardy of missing tonight’s game as he and his wife await the birth of their first child.

The couple got married on August 11th, 2023.

Now, just 15 months later, they welcome their first child to the world. Garland joins Noah Juulsen as the two Canucks to have a child in this young season. The two join Miller, Thatcher Demko, Tyler Myers and Carson Soucy as the only Canucks with children.

Garland is third on the Canucks in points, scoring four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 17 games played while averaging 18:58 minutes of ice time. His efforts earned him a bump in the lineup, spending most of the season skating on the top line with Elias Pettersson and a permanent role on the team’s top power play unit.

The Canucks will already be without injured players Brock Boeser – who was back skating this morning – and Thatcher Demko – who is making progress – for tonight’s contest against the New York Rangers. The club will also be missing Miller, who the club announced today that he would be taking a leave of absence from the team. The Province’s Patrick Johnston reported that this absence is believed to be more of a reset for the player.

Vancouver will have their hands full tonight, as New York will sport their full starting lineup for this game, outside of forward Filip Chytil.