New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward J.T. Miller on a new contract.
Miller, 23, skated in 82 games with the Rangers this past season, registering 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points, along with a plus-10 rating and 46 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in several categories in 2015-16, including games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (five), and plus/minus rating. Miller was one of two Rangers – and the only forward – who skated in all of the team’s 82 regular season games during the past season. He led the Rangers in even strength goals (20), tied for the team lead in game-winning goals, ranked second in even strength points (39), ranked third in hits (174), tied for third in goals, ranked fifth in takeaways (40), and tied for fifth in points and even strength assists (19) in 2015-16.
The 6-1, 206-pounder led the Rangers in points (28) and ranked second in goals (14) on the road in 2015-16. Miller tied for fourth among NHL players 23 years old or younger in points and ranked sixth in goals on the road during the past season. Miller registered 31 points (18 goals, 13 assists) in 52 games from December 12, 2015 until the end of the regular season, and he led the Blueshirts in goals over the span. He tallied eight goals in an eight-game span from January 16, 2016 to February 4, 2016. Miller, who was 22 years old at the time, became the first Ranger 22 years old or younger to register eight goals in an eight-game span since Alexei Kovalev during the 1993-94 season.
Miller skated in all of the Rangers’ five games during the 2016 Playoffs, registering three assists and four penalty minutes. He tied for the team lead in assists and ranked third on the Blueshirts in points (three) in the playoffs. Miller registered three assists during the second period in Game 2 of the First Round against Pittsburgh on April 16, 2016, tying a franchise record for assists in one period of a playoff game. He became the sixth Ranger to accomplish the feat and the first to do so since Jaromir Jagr in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2007 against Atlanta.
Miller has skated in 196 career NHL games over parts of four seasons (2012-13 – 2015-16), all with the Rangers, registering 37 goals and 39 assists for 76 points, along with a plus-two rating and 95 penalty minutes. Miller’s goals, assists, and points totals have increased in every season from his first season in 2012-13 through 2015-16. He has also skated in 28 career NHL playoff games, registering 13 points (one goal, 12 assists), along with a plus-three rating and eight penalty minutes. Miller has recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last seven playoff contests.
The East Palestine, Ohio, native has represented the United States in several tournaments. Miller registered nine points (two goals, seven assists) and posted a plus-five rating in seven games while helping the United States earn a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, he helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2011 IIHF U18 World Championship, as he recorded 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in six games. Miller has been selected to represent Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Miller was selected by the Rangers in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
