Rangers’ star sums up facing former Canucks teammates: ‘Dinner tonight … tomorrow going to be a war’
With the Vancouver Canucks in town to face the New York Rangers this weekend, J.T. Miller is ready to balance the fine line between being friends and enemies at the same time, when he sees his former teammates.
“Some of my best friends are on that team,” Miller explained after practice Friday. “We’re getting dinner tonight, but once tomorrow comes it’s going to be a war, and I think we all understand that. We rather it’d be that way, it’s all business when we get out there.”
The Rangers host the Canucks in a Saturday matinee a Madison Square Garden. It’s the first game between the teams since Miller was traded to the Rangers by the Canucks on Jan. 31.
The 32-year-old center became an NHL star in Vancouver. He played there for six seasons after beginning his career with the Rangers and a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Miller had three 30-goal seasons with the Canucks, recorded an NHL career-high 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists) last season and 99 points (32 goals, 67 assists) in 2021-22.
This season was a difficult one for him, though. His production slipped, he took a 10-game leave of absence for personal reasons and had a very poor relationship with star center Elias Pettersson. In fact, so bad were things between the two, that Canucks president Jim Rutherford openly admitted how untenable the situation was, which certainly didn’t help either player’s trade value.
The Rangers re-acquired Miller — whom they selected in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft and traded to the Lightning on Feb. 26, 2018 — for a package that included a first-round draft pick and center Filip Chytil almost two months ago.
His exit doesn’t appear to have changed Miller’s feelings about Vancouver.
“I have nothing but great things,” Miller said. “I raised my three kids there. My wife and I have so many friends outside of the game [in Vancouver]. The amount of love in the city and the fans showed me while I was there is something I will never forget.
“It’s a great organization, a great place to play hockey, passionate fan base. They treated me with the utmost respect when I was there. I’m nothing but thankful for the opportunity.”
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J.T. Miller ready for ‘all business out there’ when Rangers host Canucks
After a fast start following the trade, Miller’s production has slowed down. It’s worth questioning if the weight of this season has taken a toll on him, coupled with his all-out effort in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA and the burden of such high expectations coming to the Rangers.
Miller’s gone nine games without scoring a goal. He had five goals in the five previous games. He’s without a point during New York’s current three-game losing streak.
With the Rangers, Miller has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 20 games. All told this season in 60 games with the two teams, he has 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists).
When asked by a reporter if it felt like he needed a fresh start, Miller simply said, “Yep.”
That’s all in the past. What lies ahead is what’s important. That includes a reunion with his buddies Friday night and then an important game on opposite sides Saturday.
The Rangers (33-31-6) are 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points out of the second wild card. The Canucks (32-25-12) are ninth in the Western Conference, one point out of the second wild card.
“It’s all business when we get out there,” Miller stated. “They need points, too, we’re all in the same spot. We need to play well and we need to win the game.”
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