There was a time J.T. Miller struggled to work his way into an NHL lineup.

Now the 31-year-old is a stalwart centre for the Vancouver Canucks B次元官网网址� and heB次元官网网址檚 set to play his 800th regular-season game Wednesday when the team opens the 2024-25 campaign against the Calgary Flames.

B次元官网网址淭he older I get, the more I respect guys that can play for a long time. And super lucky, fortunate, especially health wise, to play in this many games,B次元官网网址� Miller said Wednesday morning.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a time 10 or 11 years ago when I was just trying to get into the lineup. I feel very, very lucky to be where IB次元官网网址檓 at. But, obviously, IB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of help from coaches and stuff along the way.B次元官网网址�

Hailing from East Palestine, Ohio, Miller was picked 15th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2011 draft.

He made his NHL debut back on Feb. 5, 2013 as the Rangers faced the Devils in New Jersey. Asked what heB次元官网网址檇 say to the player who was preparing for that game, Miller grew reflective.

B次元官网网址淥h, man. Try to enjoy it. ItB次元官网网址檚 a fun job that we get to have, but it is a job,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭he quicker you can learn, the quicker youB次元官网网址檒l stay and quicker youB次元官网网址檒l be acclimated. So just try to be a sponge B次元官网网址� Try to take in as much as you can, even though itB次元官网网址檚 very difficult.B次元官网网址�

The six-foot-one, 218-pound forward spent parts of six seasons in New York before he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in February 2018.

The Lightning then sent him to the Canucks at the 2019 draft in exchange for goalie Marek Mazanec, VancouverB次元官网网址檚 3rd-round pick in 2019 and a conditional 1st-round selection in 2020.

During five seasons in Vancouver, Miller has grown as a player and a person, said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 always trying to get better every day, physically and mentally, his approach to the game and how he can be better off the ice and on the ice when it comes to the game,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said. B次元官网网址淚 have a lot of respect for him.B次元官网网址�

Miller posted career highs in both goals (37) and points (103) last season as Vancouver finished atop the Pacific Division, then battled through two gritty playoff rounds.

The sometimes gruff centreman was an important part of the teamB次元官网网址檚 success, said captain Quinn Hughes.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been tremendous,B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淛ust a great player, great leader for our group. And 800 games is a lot of games. Really excited for him.B次元官网网址�

When Canucks winger Conor Garland hit the 400-game mark late last season, Miller organized T-shirts to celebrate the milestone and most players donned the garments B次元官网网址� complete with GarlandB次元官网网址檚 face B次元官网网址� following the morning skate.

There wonB次元官网网址檛 be a similar tribute for Miller on Wednesday, Hughes said.

B次元官网网址�800 is a great milestone, but weB次元官网网址檒l wait for him to get 1,000,B次元官网网址� he said with a grin.