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J.T. Miller is proving the Rangers were right to give him a second chance

This week at NHL FanSided is all about redemption. We previously wrote that the odds are high that J.T. Miller will be named the next captain of the New York Rangers. In addition to that, here's how Miller is redeeming himself through a second shot with the franchise.
ByJennifer Streeter|
New York Rangers v Columbus Blue Jackets
New York Rangers v Columbus Blue Jackets | Jason Mowry/GettyImages

In January of 2025, the New York Rangers brought back J.T. Miller.

Rangers' President and General Manager Chris Drury made it clear that bringing Miller back wasn't simply a quick-fix attempt from the disastrous 2024-25 NHL season as there are five years remaining on the 32-year-old's contract with an AAV of $8 million. Clearly, Miller's return means business.

In fact, in just his very first game back — which took place only one day after being traded — Miller showed his grit by netting a goal in the opening period against the Boston Bruins and added another early in the third.

Miller's redemption arc

Miller is currently writing his new chapter with the New York Rangers, and it is one full of opportunity, impact and a second shot with the franchise with renewed motivation.

His return to New York (he was drafted by the Blueshirts in 2011 and played six seasons there before being traded) saw an immediate jump in scoring and a power-play boost. Miller was just starting to scratch the surface of his potential during his original stint on Broadway. In 341 games he tallied 72 goals and added 100 assists for 172 points. His brief stint in Tampa was more of the same, but he broke out in Vancouver with 437 points in 404 games across six seasons including 99 and 103-point campaigns.

"He brings a unique combination of skill, size and physicality … not just helps us here in the short term but will be a key part of our core"
Chris Drury on J.T. Miller

Miller finished his partial stint back with 32 games played, 13 goals, 22 assists for 35 points featuring an average of 1.09 points per game, which was up from the 0.88 points per game he registered in Vancouver. On the whole, he had 70 points in 72 games, and the hope is that he will be an upper echelon point per game forward in the coming years.

Miller’s return to the Rangers isn’t just a homecoming, it’s a redemption story. He brings elite offensive production, physicality and leadership (as evidenced by him likely being named the next captain) — fitting into a team that needed the burst he provided. His first stint with the Rangers ended for a reason, and he's come a long way since. The hope is that returning to the place where it all started gives the team the big boost they need as they contend for a title.