The New York Rangers had an underwhelming 2025-26, and it was large in part due to the leadership group. From President and General Manager Chris Drury, to head coach Mike Sullivan and captain J.T. Miller, this season could not be saved.
Speaking of Miller, he took a major step back last season, and it really affected his team. Of course, despite injury concerns and lackluster play, he was an Olympian who helped the United States bring home their third gold medal, ever.
Let’s give him a grade for the 2025-26 season.
Expectations
Going into the 2025-26 season, we all got to witness the return of Miller at the 2024-25 trade deadline. He was superb, averaging over a point-per-game with 35 points in 32 games. The Rangers then rewarded him with a "C" on his chest.
After everything that happened with the Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko debacle, there was reason to believe that Drury went ahead and put the best player in to battle against the non-sense in the locker room.
Boy, was he wrong.
Performance
On the ice, Miller was different this season as compared to year's past. He was hurt in the beginning stages of the season, and never really recovered. He was hurt in December and missed some time, and then was placed on the Injured Reserve in March for a considerable amount of time.
Miller's first year as Rangers captain did not go as planned.
In 68 games, Miller scored 17 goals and 36 assists for 53 points. Not to shabby considering the state the Blueshirts were in for most of the season. The lowlight here, outside of his clapback at the fans for booing the Rangers off the ice at various points of the season, was that he was a -30. That was tied for sixth-worst in the NHL this past season.
Grade: C
Where do they go from here?
For the 2026-27 season, all eyes are on Miller and how he responds to this retool. He is going to be heavily leant on by both veteran players and prospects. Even Sullivan is going to have to lean on him from above to keep this team in check next season.
The turnaround is not expected to happen next season, unless Drury going out and doing something crazy like getting Connor McDavid from Edmonton. It is going to take a little bit for the Rangers to be back in contention, and it is a hard truth to swallow.
Miller has to try his hardest to not only turn himself around, but this Original Six franchise.
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