To facilitate J.T. Miller's return to the New York Rangers lineup, Peter Laviolette had to decide where he slotted into this squad. His decision to start the game against the Boston Bruins was interesting, as Mika Zibanejad shifted to right-wing on the first line alongside Artemi Panarin and Miller. Zibanejad's shift to the wing has been the talk of the fanbase, and it makes sense, considering how significant this is for the Rangers.
Miller can play both on the wing and through the middle, while Mika's only played center at the NHL level. He's played on the wing in the past, but Miller's been the one who can play wide to this point at the highest level. So, why was Mika the one that moved to the wing? Was it the right decision, and how can the Rangers lineup in the coming games get back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference?
Miller bounced around throughout the game, but in theory, Zibanejad starting on the wing makes sense. He's struggled this season to get to his best as a play driver, so taking away his responsibility to play through the middle and letting him focus on firing pucks on the net gets him into a position where he can rebound without worrying about forcing things. Later in the game, Miller returning to the middle of the ice down the lineup made things easier, but there will be juggling.
Growing pains are expected when a team like the New York Rangers makes such a drastic trade acquisition. We know the Rangers require time to find the right formula, and Mika and Miller will be significant parts of that. We'll see where this goes, but expect both to bounce around for the foreseeable future until Laviolette finds a comfortable mix. It will take time, but the Rangers require patience.