The irony in the evolution of J.T. Miller is that his best years in the NHL have been spent until now without the playoff hockey required to test and validate the better version of himself. The Canucks forward will get that chance starting Sunday against the Predators.

Thursday’s season finale between the Canucks and Jets meant almost nothing. But last summer, no one would have envisioned why.

After three straight years of upheaval and chaos, the Canucks won the Pacific Division and the team’s first banner since 2013 on Tuesday. It all started in the summer, thanks to a group that was committed to changing the narrative.

The Canucks looked Saturday like the formidable team they’ve become this season and beat the Oilers 3-1 to put a chokehold on what would be Vancouver’s first division title since 2013.

The upcoming playoff field will be the deepest and most balanced in league history, so it is easy to argue in Vancouver that winning the Pacific Division doesn’t matter. But losing the Pacific Division certainly would matter to the team that has led it for 113 days and still has much to prove.

When Canuck coach Rick Tocchet talks about Silovs’ demeanour and how calm he is on the ice, he is referring to by-products of the six-foot-four goalie’s dream tournament.

Losers of four of their last six games and their Pacific Division lead dwindling, J.T. Miller commissioning a team set of “Conor Garland 400 NHL Games” T-shirts eased some of the tension around the Canucks. Then Vancouver went out and played its best game in a month.