Oh boy. That may be the best way to describe JT Miller’s 2025-2026 season, and not in a good way. Miller, named captain of the Rangers in the offseason after a questionable trade that brought him to New York, almost ran himself out of town in the first five months of the season. As the team’s captain, his performance on the ice and his inability to give direct and thoughtful answers in media scrums after losses were disappointing at best and poison at worst. Calls to move Miller were loud for most of the season. But how bad was it for JT Miller?
Miller’s overall stat line of 17-36-53 in 68 games is fine on paper, but a far cry from his point per game expectations. Those expectations were relatively fair, given he had hit that mark in five of the previous six seasons. Miller was brought in to be the 1C, and was almost immediately supplanted by Mika Zibanejad after Miller’s preseason injury that he insisted on playing through.
JT Miller’s play driving on offense took a significant hit this past season, though it does appear to be finishing related and not actual chance related. That’s a good thing. The Rangers were hot garbage and Miller’s inability to finish played a significant role, but the other pieces of his game were still there. His powerplay effectiveness was the biggest culprit. In theory that should return next season, assuming Miller is at full health.
Miller’s microstats are actually very promising and a tad surprising. While it didn’t show up on the score sheet or in the standings, it looks like Miller’s two-way play was pretty good. The big outlier was a lack of shots off high danger passes, but given how bad the Rangers were, it’s probably more about the Blueshirts not generating enough high danger passes or chances. Miller did a lot of the dirty work and was surprisingly effective at defensive zone puck retrievals and existing the zone.
JT Miller’s injuries, age, and a stubbornness to play through injuries just to ensure his spot on Team USA in February all came into play. The rumors regarding his ultimatum to management regarding his spot on the Olympic team were not confirmed, but weren’t denied either. A big question is whether the ‘C’ is weighing to heavy on him, or if the combination of team quality, injuries, and poor vibes contributed.
If you’re looking for a positive, JT Miller finished the season with a line of 3-14-17 in his final 20 games of the season. That’s around the time the vibes shifted for the Blueshirts and Miller was subsequently found chemistry with Tye Kartye and Conor Sheary. It’s likely Miller’s role shifts from primary scoring line to secondary scoring and more defense as he ages and as the Rangers get younger and faster.