Star centre J.T. Miller will return to the CanucksB次元官网网址� lineup on Thursday when Vancouver hosts the Florida Panthers.

The 31-year-old forward took an indefinite leave from the team last month for personal reasons. He declined to say Thursday why he stepped away from hockey.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 here with the team, and IB次元官网网址檓 ready to look forward to whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen in the future, not necessarily what has happened in the past,B次元官网网址� he told reporters after the morning skate.

Miller has six goals and 10 assists in 17 games this season but has not played since Nov. 17.

HeB次元官网网址檚 missed 10 games, during which the Canucks (14-8-5) went 5-3-2.

The centre wasnB次元官网网址檛 far from the minds of Vancouver fans during his leave and chants of B次元官网网址淛-T Mill-er!B次元官网网址� broke out during multiple games.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just an example of how much he means to the team and the city. HeB次元官网网址檚 such a big piece to our group,B次元官网网址� said Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers. B次元官网网址淏ut sometimes thereB次元官网网址檚 things bigger than hockey. And props to him for stepping away and taking care of those things.B次元官网网址�

Getting back in the lineup Thursday may come with some rust, Miller admitted.

B次元官网网址淚 think this weekend is four weeks (off), so IB次元官网网址檒l try to keep it easy on myself, play my game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淛ust literally try to make it easy on myself, try to keep it simple, try to play physical B次元官网网址� things that I can control.B次元官网网址�

The six-foot-one, 218-pound forward from East Palestine, Ohio, put up a career-high 103 points last season, then added another 12 in the playoffs.

Picked 15th overall by the New York in the 2011 draft, heB次元官网网址檚 currently in his sixth season with the Canucks following stints with the Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

He was named to the U.S. team for FebruaryB次元官网网址檚 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last week.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited. HeB次元官网网址檚 excited. The players are excited,B次元官网网址� Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said of MillerB次元官网网址檚 return. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 one of the best players in the league. So when you get a guy like that back in the lineup, that means a lot.B次元官网网址�

Miller adds speed through the middle of the ice and an emotional intensity, Tocchet added.

B次元官网网址淚 just think that the attitude at the start of the games, he really brings that, puts the other team on their toes right off the bat,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淗e plays with a lot of FU, and itB次元官网网址檚 contagious. I think having a guy like him, heB次元官网网址檒l help drag guys into the fight. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 what heB次元官网网址檚 really good at.B次元官网网址�

Miller is the latest player to rejoin a Canucks team that has been plagued by injuries early this season.

All-star goalie Thatcher Demko made his first start of the campaign Tuesday after sitting out nearly eight months with a knee injury. Winger Dakota Joshua missed the start of the season as he recovered from treatment for testicular cancer. Sniper Brock Boeser was sidelined nearly three weeks by a concussion. Filip Hronek, one of the teamB次元官网网址檚 top defenceman, remains out after recovering from a B次元官网网址減rocedureB次元官网网址� for a lower-body injury.

The group has found ways to win despite holes in the lineup, Miller said.

B次元官网网址淥bviously, with myself and Fil and Demmer and having some injuries, thereB次元官网网址檚 been guys that have stepped up, and itB次元官网网址檚 been nice to see,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚t was a heck of a road trip by those guys, a lot of travel, a lot of games, and then come back home and get a couple points. So obviously, itB次元官网网址檚 been good, but weB次元官网网址檝e got a hard schedule the next week.B次元官网网址�