The New York Rangers have decided on a new captain for the 2025-26 National Hockey League season. They have chosen J.T. Miller of East Palestine, Ohio. At 32 years of age, the Rangers reportedly love Miller’s leadership skills. Management have high praise for Miller’s work ethic and how he conducts himself. He will be the 29th captain in franchise history.
Extremely popular in Vancouver
Miller had a strong following with the Canucks fan base before he was traded to the Rangers during last season. Two seasons ago I went to two Canucks games against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena, and it felt like every time Miller touched the puck or made a significant play on the ice, the crowd would bellow “J.T. Miller.” The crowd absolutely erupted when he scored the game-winning goal with 33 seconds left in game five of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs in a 3-2 Canucks win.
Prior to be traded to the Canucks last season, Miller took a mental health break. At one time in professional sports, a mental health break would have been frowned upon, and something that just did not happen. However, there has been a change of opinion about mental health in recent years, and when Miller took his break last season, he received a lot of support.
Statistics last season
Miller had 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points in 72 games. He was a -6 with 55 penalty minutes, 22 power-play points, four shorthanded points, two game-winning goals, 137 shots on goal, 628 faceoff wins, 50 blocked shots, 168 hits, 28 takeaways and 71 giveaways.
Miller’s first game-winning goal came on October 17 in a 3-2 Canucks win over the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Miller scored at 2:09 of the overtime period on an all-American goal. Quinn Hughes of Orlando, Florida and Brock Boeser of Burnsville, Minnesota had the assists. Miller’s second game-winning goal came on January 27 in a 5-2 Canucks win over the St. Louis Blues. Miller scored from Hughes and goaltender Kevin Lankinen of Helsinki, Finland at 8:26 of the second period. The Canucks took a 3-0 lead in the game. Miller also opened the game against the Blues by fighting Blues captain Brayden Schenn at 2:57 of the first period.
Sixth American captain in Rangers history
Of the 29 Rangers captains, Miller becomes the sixth American captain in Rangers history. He follows defenseman, two-time Norris Trophy winner, Calder Trophy winner and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Brian Leetch of Corpus Christi, Texas (1997-2000), 1999 Calder Trophy winner Chris Drury of Trumbull, Connecticut (2008-2011), Ryan Callahan of Rochester, New York (2011-2014), defenseman Ryan McDonagh of Saint Paul, Minnesota (2014-2018), and defenseman Jacob Trouba of Rochester, Michigan (2022-2024). It is interesting that the first 22 captains in Rangers franchise history were Canadian and the last five Rangers captains have been American.
