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 鈥� and he鈥檚 set to play his 800th regular-season game Wednesday when the team opens the 2024-25 campaign against the Calgary Flames.

鈥淭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,鈥� Miller said Wednesday morning.

鈥淭here鈥檚 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 I鈥檓 at. But, obviously, I鈥檝e got a lot of help from coaches and stuff along the way.鈥�

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 he鈥檇 say to the player who was preparing for that game, Miller grew reflective.

鈥淥h, man. Try to enjoy it. It鈥檚 a fun job that we get to have, but it is a job,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he quicker you can learn, the quicker you鈥檒l stay and quicker you鈥檒l be acclimated. So just try to be a sponge 鈥� Try to take in as much as you can, even though it鈥檚 very difficult.鈥�

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, Vancouver鈥檚 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.

鈥淗e鈥檚 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,鈥� Tocchet said. 鈥淚 have a lot of respect for him.鈥�

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 team鈥檚 success, said captain Quinn Hughes.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been tremendous,鈥� Hughes said. 鈥淛ust a great player, great leader for our group. And 800 games is a lot of games. Really excited for him.鈥�

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 鈥� complete with Garland鈥檚 face 鈥� following the morning skate.

There won鈥檛 be a similar tribute for Miller on Wednesday, Hughes said.

鈥�800 is a great milestone, but we鈥檒l wait for him to get 1,000,鈥� he said with a grin.