New York Rangers Inquired About the Availability of Former Blueshirt J.T. Miller

When we talk about the potential trade targets of the New York Rangers, we've been thinking of young players and prospects that'll be good for the future since the Rangers want to freshen the dressing room. However, according to Arthur Staple of the Athletic, the Rangers may feel that the answer lies in a former Blueshirt currently with the Vancouver Canucks. It turns out that the Rangers have been "inquiring recently about the availability of J.T Miller."

The Blueshirts drafted Miller in the 2011 NHL entry draft fifteenth overall but were packaged alongside former Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He struggled to find a path to consistent top-six ice time in Tampa and was sent across the continent to the Vancouver Canucks where he has re-emerged as a star in British Columbia. Since leaving New York, Miller's hit the point-per-game mark four times, falling just short in the other season in Vancouver.

He has 16 points in 17 games, six goals, and ten assists. He's only played 17 games because he's been suffering from burnout. Miller is quite an emotionally charged player, which affects his performance when that fades. New York is looking at Miller because they want that player in the room who always wants to win. He always wants to be on the scoresheet and cares much for his team and teammates.

Miller has developed a reputation as a locker room liability due to how much he cares. Videos of him screaming at former Canucks netminder Colin Delia gave him a reputation as a jerk and an unwanted teammate. That kick in the backside might be what the Rangers need, and some teams will cope with those issues in the locker room for the 100-point upside he has flashed in his time in Vancouver.

It's worth noting that J.T. Miller has a contract that will take him through the end of the 2029-30 season, complete with a no-movement clause throughout and a modified no-trade clause in the final two seasons. That contract is worth $8 million a year, and a player that does not play the defensive side of the game well. It's a rich deal for his two-way game, but again, is it worth it for that production?

The East Palestine, Ohio native might make some sense for the Rangers to re-acquire, but only in the scenario that they can send disgruntled and underperforming centerman Mika Zibanejad back the other way to make the money work. That or get out of Jacob Trouba's deal. New York cannot justify taking on another major contract without shipping money out in the cap era.