Rangers name J.T. Miller 29th captain in team history
J.T. Miller of the New York Rangers. Credit: Jim McIsaac
A day before they open training camp, the Rangers on Tuesday named forward J.T. Miller the 29th captain in team history.
“We’re pleased to announce J.T. Miller as the new captain of the New York Rangers,” Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said in the news release announcing the move. "Since his arrival last season, J.T. immediately became a leader for our group and exemplifies how we want to conduct ourselves both on and off the ice.
“Congratulations to J.T. and his entire family on an incredibly meaningful achievement. And we’re confident he will continue to represent our organization with class, commitment, and integrity.”
Miller, 32, is entering his 14th NHL season and is in his second tour of duty with the Rangers. The team initially selected him in the first round of the 2011 NHL draft, 15th overall, and he signed a pro contract after one season of junior hockey, splitting his first three pro seasons between the Rangers and their Hartford farm team.
He became a full-time Ranger at age 22 in the 2015-16 season, and scored 22 goals in each of his first two full seasons before he was traded to the Lightning at the deadline in 2018.
In the summer of 2020, the Lightning traded Miller to the Canucks, and after five-and-a-half seasons there, the Canucks traded him back to the Rangers at the end of January, with minor league defenseman Erik Brannstrom and prospect Jackson Dorrington, in exchange for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a first-round pick.
Naming Miller the captain clears up one of the questions that had been on the minds of fans as the season approached. Clearly, even though the team is starting its first season under new head coach Mike Sullivan, management wanted to get the new captain installed before camp started, in order to set a tone. Miller carries a strong personality, and the team saw him as a culture setter for the businesslike way they want the team to be.
"I think it's great. JT's the type of player I look up to. I think he's a type of player I see myself playing like in a few years, just heavy physical," said Brennan Othmann, who played with Miller after being called up from Hartford last season. "Every team knows he's on the ice at all times. You got to be aware when he's out there. And he leads by example. And I think every single team in the NHL would want a guy like J.T. on their team.''
The previous captain, Jacob Trouba, was traded to Anaheim last November at the start of the 4-15 slide that eventually derailed their season when they missed the playoffs. Trouba’s predecessor as captain, Ryan McDonagh, was traded to Tampa Bay in the same deal as Miller.
Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox will return as alternate captains, and Vincent Trocheck will join the leadership group as the fourth alternate, taking the spot vacated when Chris Kreider was traded to Anaheim over the summer.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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