The New York Rangers are back on the ice today for training camp, and just a few days away from officially kicking off the 2025-26 season with some preseason action. With everyone looking toward a new centennial jersey to buy, much like the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins are doing this season, another major announcement made waves across the internet.
The 29th captain of this historic franchise was named, and it is a bit of a shocker to some. J.T. Miller, who was traded back to the Rangers after a six-year stint to start his career, is now the sole leader of this organization. With a new head coach in Mike Sullivan, and a feeling that this season might be the actual last chance to make any kind of Stanley Cup push, this is a great thing to happen.
Here are three reasons why he was the right player for the job.
It was a toss-up
For many, there was a feeling that it might have belonged to Vincent Trocheck to get the "C". While that might have been a great choice as well, he was passed up for the recently brought in Miller. It might have come down to a simple fact of Miller probably getting more ice-time than Trocheck, or that it was simply President and General Manager Chris Drury's final say in the matter.
Adam Fox was another name that was swept across the rumor mill as next captain, due to his position. The last two captains have been defensemen, in Ryan McDonagh and Jacob Trouba, the trend could have continued with Fox. Had he been named, it would have been a solid choice, but it ultimately wasn't the case.
Miller is the leader that has been missing
One of the main drawbacks from last season's lackluster perfromance was due to the fact that the Rangers locker room was broken. It was beyond repair, and that was due to inadequate coaching, media fallouts with former players and sub-par play on the ice.
Miller can fix all of that on multiple levels. Firstly, he has had a long reign of being a leader, largely with Vancouver. Over the last few seasons, that has been a bit of a broken locker room as well, yet they were considered as a solid hockey club. Second, Miller was a force to be reckoned with in his tenure with Vancouver, as well as the short sample size at the end of last season.
On and off the ice, he is the right man for this position.
The last of the greatest Rangers era of all-time
That iconic picture below only has one remaining Rangers player on it. From 2012 through 2017-2018, the Rangers were a fun team to watch every couple of nights a week. Henrik Lundqvist in his prime, Dan Girardi blocking shots like it was game seven of the playoffs every single game, Mats Zuccarello growing into a larger than life favorite with the Rangers hopefuls. What a time to be alive.
Then came the rebuild era, which sent Miller to Tampa Bay, before he finally landed in Vanouver. As the Presidents' Trophy era is slightly approaching its conclusion (or climax), it is important to remember that Miller was on those winning Rangers teams that made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final in 2015.
That expierence will help hone this team into a more clear focus. Accountability will be had amongst the playersm and Miller will be the catalyst of that.