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New York Rangers: Five players who’ve succeeded under Alain Vigneault

By Nicholas Zararis

SUNRISE, FL - NOVEMBER 4: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on during second period action against the Florida Panthers at the BB
SUNRISE, FL - NOVEMBER 4: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on during second period action against the Florida Panthers at the BB /
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TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 02: New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (10) scores the overtime winner during an NHL game between the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 02, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The Rangers defeated the Lightning 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 02: New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (10) scores the overtime winner during an NHL game between the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 02, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The Rangers defeated the Lightning 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

J.T. Miller

J.T Miller made his NHL debut during the lockout-abbreviated 2012-2013 season under former head coach John Tortorella. In his second career game, Miller scored two goals and showed a flash of what he could develop into. But the road to get there was bumpy and outright ugly.

Miller spent time in the AHL as recently as the 2015 season, and there were questions as to whether or not he’d ever make the leap to being an NHL talent. Coach Vigneault was sure that Miller could make it at the NHL level, but it was going to take tough love.

And it worked.

Miller has gotten better every season he’s been in the NHL. Miller himself gets why things were abrasive. “Coach expects a lot from us, but I can take it,” Miller said in an interview.

The winger had the best season of his young career in 16-17 when he put up 56 points in 82 games. With a bigger sample size, it’s apparent that last season was not a fluke. Dating back to the 2015 season, Miller has hovered around a 15 percent shooting percentage. This means that the output from the past several seasons is likely to hold, and could possibly get better.

The trust Vigneault has in Miller can be seen in his usage the last two seasons. Last season he showed how lethal a playmaker he could be when Miller was the catalyst on the hottest line with  Kevin Hayes and Michael Grabner.

Alain Vigneault’s tough love of Miller paid off in the long run.

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