Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller continues to build his reputation as one of the NHL’s most clutch players, tying Alex DeBrincat for the most overtime goals in the league since Miller’s Canucks debut in the 2019-20 season, with 10. His knack for finding the back of the net in big moments was on full display again in Vancouver’s 3-2 O.T. win over the Florida Panthers on Thursday, where Miller netted his 13th career overtime winner.
Miller’s latest heroics secured the Canucks’ first win of the 2023-24 season, adding to his already impressive track record. In just five seasons with Vancouver, Miller has ascended to second place in Canucks franchise history for overtime goals, with 10 in 368 games. He trails only franchise legend Daniel Sedin, who scored 16 overtime goals in 1,306 games.
Given that Miller has played nearly 1,000 fewer games than Sedin in a Canucks uniform and is only three goals behind, he is on pace to claim the record in the near future. However, it’s worth noting the difference in eras. During the majority of Sedin’s time, overtime was played in a five-on-five format, whereas Miller’s accomplishments have come in the three-on-three format, which was adopted by the NHL in 2015.
This mark is a testament to just how valuable the Ohio native has been to the Canucks since his arrival. After some turbulence in his first couple of years — a time in which the team was near the bottom of the league standings — Miller has become a fan favourite and cornerstone for the club. Now entering his sixth season with Vancouver, he’s collected 145 goals, 260 assists, and a plus-minus rating of +44. At age 30, Miller put up career highs in both goals and points with 37 goals and 103 points for the 2023-24 season — the same year his seven-year, $56 million extension, signed the year prior, kicked in.
Entering the same conversation as Daniel Sedin is no small feat. The 31-year-old continues to cement his place as one of the best players to ever don a Canucks jersey, and with plenty of gas left in the tank, there’s no end in sight just yet. The elite two-way centerman has so far exceeded the $8-million average annual value (AAV) cap hit of his contract and seems to just get better with age. His playing style — a gritty but skillful power forward comparable to the likes of Joe Thornton — has historically proven to be fairly sustainable into the latter stages of a career.