JT MIller Returns To Save The Rangers Season

Dave Reginek. Getty Images.

Oh FUCK yes.

It was just about 7 years ago when the Blueshirts gave away their captain Ryan McDonagh and a 24 year-old JT Miller, whom the franchise selected 15th overall in 2011 but never really blossomed in the Big Apple. Although I understood the position the Rangers were in, I thought at the time the return (mainly Libor Hajek, Brett Howden & a first) was underwhelming & that's exactly how it played out. Meanwhile McD became a back-to-back Cup champ in Tampa while Miller morphed into a superstar after his third stop in Vancouver. New York eventually rebounded and had some success, but one of their biggest knocks was always being easy to play against. Especially up the middle. When the rink got smaller and bodies hit harder the Rangers faded. A player like JT Miller - the ultimate mix of skill & sandpaper - would've come in handy in their recent run of postseasons cut short. A point-per-game banger who crushes the dot & finds himself getting Selke votes annually? Those guys are hard to come by.

Now, thanks to an ugly scene between the Canucks two top dogs, we finally get to see what a difference a player like that can make to this Rangers team that desperately needs a spark. One of them had to go, and it was always gonna be the 31 year-old Miller hitting the road over 26 year-old Elias Pettersen. That played right into the hands of Chris Drury as Vancouver was held hostage by a NMC & were forced to move Miller's 5 remaining years at $8M/per (which will quickly become ash tray money after the cap jumps an expected $25M+ over the next 3 seasons) for pennies on the dollar. I love Filip Chytil & I truly hope he has a long, healthy career - but based on his concussion history & being sidelined a couple short stints this season it's certainly a gamble. One the Rangers no longer have to roll the dice on. A protected first & Victor Mancini means nothing for a squad still in win-now mode (you can argue whether or not they should be, but they're clearly still all-in) despite a catastrophic couple months putting them behind the eight ball.

This was straight-up robbery that wouldn't have been possible if Drury didn't bully Goodrow & Trouba outta town. Give the man some credit.

Obviously there's still plenty of question marks. There's plenty of big-name forwards on milk cartons. Mika Zibanejad in particular is firmly on notice now. No longer is he the default top-six option. Better step that game up Mr. DJ. Defensively they've improved but there's certainly a ways to go. Still, bringing Miller back to where it all started is as big a boost as fans could realistically have asked for while still leaving plenty of room for another solid addition (likely on the back end). There's no doubt he's gonna be energized back in New York sharing a locker room with his pal Vincent Trocheck. No doubt the remaining Rangers are gonna be energized by their front office taking a home run swing to show confidence in their roster. They just got tougher. Meaner. Heavier. And all that comes with a skillset that hung a 37/66/103/+32 line just a year ago. The Blueshirts now roster two of the top 10 faceoff guys to boot with Millsy & Troch. He checks every damn box. 

There's still some scratching & clawing to do just to grab a playoff invite, and if they do they'll likely be dogs from the jump. Still, if JT Miller helps wake the fellas up to play to their potential down the stretch, NO ONE is gonna wanna see them at the dance.

No one.

VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!!!