J.T. Miller got to come home a few days early the week of Thanksgiving.

Born in East Palestine, Ohio, and raised in Coraopolis, the veteran forward was grateful the schedule worked out that conveniently for him.

“It’s routine now, but I also love coming home,” Miller said Nov. 27. “I go to the house the night before and eating some dinner with friends and family.”

Those visits home have become infrequent this season. In fact, that will be the only trip home in congruence with the NHL schedule. In years past, there was a handful throughout the course of an 82-game slate.

That’s one of the few drawbacks Miller has experienced in his first season in the Western Conference with the Vancouver Canucks.

Entering Saturday, Miller was third on the Canucks with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 36 games. The only teammates with more points are his linemates, Elias Pettersson (37 points) and Brock Boeser (34 points).

Acquired in a trade during the draft that was held in Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, the transaction was chided by fans and some media who felt general manager Jim Benning giving up a first-round pick in 2020 was too much for a player who had only three 20-goal seasons in his first seven NHL seasons.

On Dec. 1, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini chided back:

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) December 2, 2019

Miller’s success this season comes in stark contrast to the early days of his NHL career with the New York Rangers. A first-round pick in 2011 (No. 15 overall), Miller failed to enamour coach Alain Vigneault who, in 2014, suggested Miller needed to figure out the demands of being an NHLer, or “he’ll be a good minor leaguer.”

“That’s just part of being a pro and learning and maturing,” Miller said. “That experience happens for a lot of guys. I definitely feel wiser now than I was then. I’m not trying to find my game. I know what my game is.”

Miller appeared to figure that out as he became a 20-goal scorer with the Rangers before being moved to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2018 trade deadline. He had some moments with the Lightning but normally inhabited a role on the bottom-nine lines of a stacked squad.

With the Canucks, he almost immediately was placed on the top line.

“That was part of the thing when I got traded: They said they have an opportunity for me,” Miller said. “I look at it as a challenge. I was given a different role in Tampa with the depth they had there. It’s part of the business. I understand that. It doesn’t matter what role I’m playing in. I’m not going to change my game. I’m just going to bring what I bring to the table. So far it’s been good.”

Miller has enjoyed finding immediate chemistry with Pettersson, winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy last season as the NHL’s top rookie.

“He’s great,” Miller said. “He’s learning how to play the game. He has so much skill and sees the ice so well. When he’s engaged and playing physically, holding onto the puck, he’s such a good player. He’s a big part of our team. He’s one of the more high-end guys in the league. I’m lucky enough to play with him, help him out and get some chemistry with him.”

“We can both make plays,” Pettersson said. “He’s been a good addition to our team. Plays on a high level every single game and works hard. He’s easy to play with.”

Part of the celebrated class of 2011 Western Pennsylvanians who were drafted and went on to success in the NHL, Miller is the only one of the four who hasn’t been to an All-Star Game. Ducks goaltender John Gibson (Whitehall), Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad (Gibsonia) and Panthers forward Vince Trocheck (Upper St. Clair) have received that honor.

So far this season, Miller has been the best, or at least most productive, of the bunch.

“I’m lucky enough that I’m playing a lot minutes,” Miller said. “That helps. Obviously surrounded by a lot of great players and a lot of team success early on. We’ve had a good start to the season, and that makes it easier on you. I just feel comfortable within my game. I’m just trying work on staying with what works for me and not complicate things too much.”

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