Off-ice adversity bringing Vancouver Canucks closer together [Video]

Cancer. Major injuries. The death of a parent. The Vancouver Canucks have been through it all this season.

Yet another key Canucks player was sidelined Tuesday when the club announced that centre J.T. Miller has taken an indefinite leave for personal reasons.

Vancouver responded to the news with a gritty effort against the potent New York Rangers, but ultimately took a 4-3 loss.

“Guys are going through a lot, but I think that I’m really proud of the way we responded tonight, and how we battled and competed,” captain Quinn Hughes said after the game.

“And I think we’ve got a really, really tight group — that’s going to make us stronger throughout the season. But I think we’ve just got a great coaching staff, great organization, management. And we’re all in this together.”

The Canucks (9-6-3) announced at training camp that neither all-star goalie Thatcher Demko nor bruising winger …