What to expect from J.T. Miller

Jonathan Marrero Jul 19, 2017

One could argue that J.T. Miller has the most upside of anyone on the New York Rangers. Coming off a career high 56 points, and second straight 22 goal season, J.T. Miller is slowly but surely growing before our eyes.

On both sides of the puck, Miller took strides last season. During the regular season, he was one of the many bright spots on the team, constantly finding himself creating space and chances for himself or a teammate. On the defensive side of the puck, Miller became much more responsible. Last season, Miller reached career highs in both shot blocks and takeaways. The well-documented success of the Miller-Hayes-Grabner line last season certainly helped Miller’s point total, and in the regular season, Miller was both one of the most consistent and hardest working players.

Expectations:

Simply put, Miller will end up right around 20-25 goals, and 35-40 assists. Another “pass first” type of player, Miller will benefit from his skills as a facilitator. What will be interesting is where he is slotted; if he is a center, he will need to elevate his game and grow even more this season.

At times during the regular season, Miller will be one of the best players on the team and one of the most frustrating players on the team. During the regular season, J.T. Miller will continue to be a steady player with both a lot of promise and a lot of mistakes to correct. There’s a reason the regular season has been stressed so much; Miller was abysmal in the playoffs. Should the Rangers find themselves in the playoffs, Miller will need to be better.