J.T. Miller is in Boston and will be in the Rangers lineup against the Bruins during Saturday's matinee matchup.
As announced Friday, Jan. 31st, Miller was traded to the New York Rangers by the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. New York also acquired defenseman Erik Brannstrom. The trade initiated a homecoming for Blueshirt fans and Miller alike, as he was originally drafted by the Rangers in the first round of the 2011 NHL entry draft.
According to the league's release, the deal came three days following Vancouver's President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford acknowledged that the strained relationship between Miller and Elias Pettersson had negatively impacted the Canucks — with a trade seemingly providing the only solution.
Blueshirt President and GM Chris Drury revealed on Saturday morning that Miller will be in the lineup when the Rangers play at the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Drury also said the first day of February brings plenty of thrill for the New York franchise.
"Certainly an exciting day, an exciting night last night, to acquire JT Miller. Certainly one of the premiere impact forwards in the NHL," Drury said.
Confrontational on and off the ice, Miller is a playmaking forward who combines speed, physicality, and passing ability in one of the most unique skillsets in the league. A 31-year-old forward, Miller has 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in 40 games this season so far.
Aside from thanking now-former Rangers Chytil and Mancini, Drury also elaborated on what Miller will bring to the Rangers' roster.
"He brings a unique combination of skill, size and physicality to our team. He helps us here in the short-term but he will be a key part of our core moving forward. He's a terrific 200-foot player. He plays both sides of the puck, both special teams, he has a physical element and a high level of compete that we're excited to bring to our group."Chris Drury on J.T. Miller
With Miller confirmed to be in the lineup, the Athletic's Peter Baugh predicts the following lineup:
Potential Lineups
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Kreider-Miller-Smith
Cuylle-Zibanejad-Kaliyev
Edström-Carrick-Rempe
This story in ongoing. Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette wouldn't comment on who Miller would be playing alongside while in Boston — as he said he thought he should inform those players before telling the — but Laviolette was willing to clarify that Igor Shesterkin is getting the nod to start in goal.
How to Tune In
Puck drop for the Bruins hosting the New York Rangers is slated for 3:30 p.m. EST, in a matinee matchup — Saturday, Feb. 1. The Eastern Conference game will be streamed via ESPN+ and will also be available on ABC in certain areas. Be sure to tune into our Twitter for live updates.