NEW YORK – The New York Rangers have officially named J.T. Miller as the 29th captain in franchise history. The announcement, made by President and General Manager Chris Drury on Tuesday, marks a significant moment for a team looking to bounce back from a disappointing season.
Miller, 32, takes on the mantle after the captaincy was left vacant for much of the previous season following the trade of Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks in December. This will be Miller’s first full season back with the Rangers, the team that originally drafted him 15th overall in 2011. He was re-acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks in January.
In his return to New York last season, Miller quickly established himself as a leader both on and off the ice. Despite splitting the year between two teams, he still posted an impressive 70 points (22 goals, 48 assists) in 72 games. His 35 points in 32 games with the Rangers showed his immediate impact. Drury praised Miller, stating that he “immediately became a leader for our group and exemplifies how we want to conduct ourselves both on and off the ice.”
