The 2024-25 season has come and gone, and thankfully so. The last 82 games of misery and disappointment were dragged out and played out to the full extent. Now, the vibe is to enjoy the nice weather and await the NHL Entry Draft and free agency.
Before we do all that, let's look back at the season that should be erased from the Rangers' Hockey Reference page, and give out some grades. Let us start with the returning superstar, J.T. Miller.
Expectations
Obviously, at the point the Rangers acquired Miller from Vancouver, the season was in limbo, and he didn't really have a set-in-stone expectation. It was more of a we need you for next season and beyond kind of situation, with very little thought of his impact changing the eventual result of no playoff appearance.
But, if he did have any kind of expectation, he crushed it in his 32 game comeback to the Blueshirts.
Performance
For the entirety of the 2024-25 season, Miller was fantastic for both the Vancouver Canucks and Rangers. He appeared in 72 games, scoring 22 goals and adding 48 assists. For his performance as a Ranger, he had 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in 32 games, which was the second-most behind Artemi Panarin, in that period.
With a full season upcoming for him in 2025-26, his performance next season will be to continue being a point-per-game player. The Rangers will desperately need him to do that and become a leader on this team, alongside someone on the defensive end of the ice who should undoubtedly deserve the "C".
Where does he go from here
The entire Rangers landscape is subject to change this offseason. There is no way of predicting what moves will be made on draft night or what free agency will bring. The only thing you can count on is that J.T. Miller will be a Rangers player come next season and beyond. Giving up fan-favorite Filip Chytil solidified that General Manager Chris Drury was all-in on keeping Miller full-term.
With Peter Laviolette's firing, a new coach is coming. Miller's former head coach in Vancouver, Rick Tocchet, is among the leading candidates for the vacancy. That could be a godsend for everyone involved.
Miller also has big summer plans for himself. He is trying to make his mark on another sport, Golf, by attempting to make the cut for the U.S. Open.
This past season was an absolute trainwreck, from start to finish. J.T. Miller return to New York and his overwhelmingly positive performance was a beautiful thing to watch.