JT Miller agreed to a seven-year, $56 million contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. It has an average annual value of $8 million.
The 29-year-old forward has one season remaining on a five-year, $26.25 million contract ($5.25 million average annual value) he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 26, 2018. He could have become an unrestricted free agent after this. season.
“Super lucky and fortunate, super happy. It’s been an amazing week for my family,” Miller told the Canucks website Saturday. “Trying to take it all in, enjoy it. I’m really looking forward to starting a new chapter in Vancouver.”
Miller said Tuesday he was happy to settle his new contract before the start of the season.
“I think it might free me up to play even a more consistent level of hockey to know that there’s a commitment there,” Miller said. “So, I’m really excited to be obviously spending this chapter of my life and my hockey career in Vancouver and to get it out of the way before camp, just so I can focus and be clear minded and have a clear head is exciting. “
Miller had NHL career highs in goals (32), assists (67), points (99), power-play points (38) and shots on goal (206) in 80 games for the Canucks last season. In three seasons with Vancouver, Miller has 217 points (74 goals, 143 assists) in 202 games. He was traded to the Canucks by the Lightning on June 22, 2019 for goalie Marek Mazanec, a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
“JT Miller is an impact player in this league and we are thrilled to have him re-signed with the Canucks long term,” general manager Patrik Allvin said. “His production last season speaks for itself and his competitive drive provides a standard that our players can look up to. He will continue to be a key piece of this team for years to come.”
Video: Top 5 JT Miller Plays from the 2021-22 Season
The Canucks (40-30-12) finished fifth in the Pacific Division last season, five points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Miller said he has high hopes for what the Canucks can accomplish this season.
“It’s a very easy decision to stay there, especially from a hockey standpoint,” Miller said. “We have a very good group of players and a good group of people, and I think when you put those together we can do some pretty special things. I think we’re just scratching the surface with our potential and … I think our expectations are to win the Stanley Cup. We want to be playing in the playoffs and competing for the Stanley Cup.”
Selected by the New York Rangers with the No. 15 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Miller has 454 points (169 goals, 285 assists) in 637 regular-season games for the Rangers, Lightning and Canucks, and 44 points (nine goals, 35 assists) in 78 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said Aug. 18 he was preparing as though Miller would be with Vancouver when the regular season begins despite trade rumors because of his contract situation.
“He’s a Canuck and the other stuff I can’t do anything about,” Boudreau told SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. “So I put him in [my plans] and don’t worry about it. If something were to happen, then I would just adjust to that situation, but I think of JT as our No. 1 center and a great hockey player and I’m just glad he’s a Canuck.”
Boudreau said it was not just Miller’s production but his well-rounded game that makes him such an effective player.
“He just comes to play and he cares about winning,” Boudreau said. “I remember as soon as I got to Vancouver, he told me all he cares about is winning and those guys are hard to find. … He pretty well was part of every situation that we had. To us he did an awful lot “
NHL.com independent correspondent Kevin Woodley contributed to this report
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