The New York Rangers have had a frustrating season, as has their captain, J.T. Miller, who has dealt with slumps and injuries in his first full season back with New York. However, he has played better recently, which is an encouraging sign that he can bounce back in 2026-27.
J.T. Miller’s Play This Season
Miller played well after the Rangers acquired him during last season, and he had 13 goals and 22 assists in 32 games after the trade. After naming him captain ahead of this season, the team struggled early on, and while they played well defensively and got great goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, they did not score enough to consistently win games. They were shut out three times and held to one goal three times in their first 10 games.
Miller did not produce offensively, and though he did a nice job on faceoffs and played with physicality, he had some bad turnovers and defensive mistakes that cost the Rangers in close games. He did have a few memorable moments as he scored overtime goals in a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 30 and a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 13.
Injuries also prevented Miller from getting into a rhythm, as he missed multiple games with upper-body injuries three times and was placed on injured reserve two of those times. He also missed time during training camp with an injury, but returned for the season opener.
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Miller has started to produce more offensively, and he has nine goals and 20 assists in his last 31 games. He has a heavy slap shot, he has gotten to the front of the net, and he has set up teammates with cross-ice passes. He is on a four-game point streak and has two goals and four assists in those four games. He has 16 goals and 31 assists in 61 games, while winning 61.5 percent of his faceoffs.
Similarities Between J.T. Miller’s Play This Season and Mika Zibanejad’s Play Last Season
While this has not been the type of season the Rangers hoped Miller would have, there are some similarities between his play this season and Mika Zibanejad’s play last season. Both struggled offensively and defensively early on, but both played much better as the season went on. They are also both veteran centers who have consistently produced offensively throughout their careers, and both have four seasons remaining on their contract after this season.
This season, Zibanejad built on his strong play late in 2024-25 and has been the Rangers’ most consistent player. He has consistently generated scoring chances at even strength, has produced on the power play, and has been one of the team’s best penalty killers. He leads New York in goals (33) and points (70) in 74 games, and he has also won 52 percent of his faceoffs.
Zibanejad has a great slap shot, and he has gotten it on goal this season. He has set up his linemates with smart passes and gotten shots from the point through traffic and on goal. He has stepped up since the Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings, and he has quickly formed chemistry with his new linemates, Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault. He was also named the winner of the 2025-26 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award.
The Rangers Need Miller to Have a Better 2026-27 Season
Despite not coming close to making the playoffs this season, the Rangers have some proven veterans and some rookies who have played well and have done a nice job over the last few weeks. Miller has played a role in their improved play and looked much more confident and comfortable in the second half of the season. New York needs him to carry that momentum into 2026-27 and bounce back, just as Zibanejad has done this season.
