The New York Rangers are about to enter an interesting season, with hopes and expectations a bit lower than usual. They could get better, or all these new moves and acquisitions were not the right decision.
Speaking of something not being the right decision, the J.T. Miller trade is starting to look a bit sour. The Rangers did not give up a ton, with Filip Chytil still being very injury-prone with the Vancouver Canucks, but their expected return has not come to fruition.
The Rangers need their captain to be what they wanted, and much better then what they have had.
Started strong
When Miller left the Rangers the first time, he still struggled with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2017-18. But when he signed in Vancouver, everything changed rapidly, and he became a top-10 center in the NHL basically overnight.
Miller went from a mid-50-point producer to surpassing 90 to even 100 points in a single season. He was a key part of some pretty good Canucks teams, though it did not lead to a championship or anything substantial.
That is what the Rangers bid on two trade deadlines ago, and they have yet to recieve that.
Huge fall-off
Since coming to the Rangers, he had a nice start following the trade back to Broadway. In 40 games, he had nine goals and 26 assists for 35 points.
Ideally, it looked like his success from Vancouver was going to follow him. But it didn't, as his first season as the 29th captain of the Rangers was a complete dud. Miller was slow, seemingly looked like he was dealing with an injury for most of the season, and his frustrations came out in the media against the fanbase.
On the ice, 17 goals and 38 assists on a very lackluster squad is not a bad stat line, but certainly not enough. Mika Zibanejad was the only really positive last season, and Miller will have to continue to slot behind him as the 2C, but youngsters like Noah Laba and Cole Beaudoin could eventually surpass No. 8.
Can he get back to form in 2026-27?
The Rangers need him to get back to form on a couple of different levels in 2026-27. Miller has to step up with this retool in full throttle and give these prospects a vision of success. Then, he has to enact that positivity on the ice with his own performance.
Miller has a stable spot on this roster, but there is a sense that his leash is getting shorter from General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Chris Drury. Eventually, the return to prominence has to come from the captain.
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