NY RANGERS: JT MILLER, CENTRE OR WINGER?
NY RANGERS: JT MILLER, CENTRE OR WINGER?
By: Matthew Blittner
Hey you! Yes you! Do you want to be a centre for the NY Rangers this season? They can really use another pivot.
After trading Derek Stepan to Arizona on Draft Night, and losing Oscar Lindberg in the Expansion Draft to Vegas, the Rangers find themselves short a centre or two.
With a shiny new contract that will pay him $5.35M per season over the next five-years, Mika Zibanejad is firmly entrenched as the Rangers' top-line centre.
Kevin Hayes, thanks to his growth potential and current skill set, has been promoted to second-line centre duties.
The signing of David Desharnais takes care of the Rangers fourth-line centre concerns.
That still leaves the third-line without a centre.
Who wants to be the third-line pivot for the Rangers? Here's the candidates: Andrew Desharnais (he's in camp on a PTO); Lias Andersson (they drafted him with the pick that Stepan netted them from Arizona. He's being given every chance to make the team out of camp, but realistically he could use another year of development before landing in the NHL); Filip Chytil (switch out seventh overall pick for 21st overall, but reasons are still the same); and lastly JT Miller.
JT Miller was the Rangers' first-round (15th overall) draft pick back in 2011, and he was selected as a centre.
Throughout his minor-league career, Miller routinely found himself as the pivot on either the first- or second-lines.
When he made the jump to the NHL during the 2012-13 season, he initially played centre. Then the coaching staff deemed him to be a better winger as that would allow him to have fewer defensive responsibilities. He's been a winger -- and a darn good one -- ever since.
With the Rangers short down the middle, Miller is being moved back to his natural position, but can he do it after such a long-time?
Miller certainly thinks so. In fact, every reporter at camp wanted to know his thoughts on the matter, and he obliged:
"I've proved that I can play there before so I was going to feel it out and see how it goes and see where it fits. But obviously whatever responsibility they need me to take on I'm willing to do. It's definitely more of a 200-foot game, even though we play a 200-foot game as a team. But you're really conscious or defensive at first and then kind of break out from there.
"It's a little different from the slashing as a winger all the time. You're getting your feet moving, got to be low and slow and take care of the puck first so you're accountable. I played a lot there in the minors so I'm sure a few games here and in preseason and everything will be back to normal."
Miller certainly seems confident in himself, and why shouldn't he?
He's coming off a breakout campaign that saw him net a career-high 56-points (22G, 34A).
At times, Miller was the Rangers best all-around forward last season. That's quite the accomplishment considering he played on a team that deployed Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Mika Zibanejad, and Mats Zuccarello, among others.
With Stepan now gone to the desert, Mika installed as the top-line pivot, Zucc being Zucc, and Nash being another year older, it's imperative that Miller continues to up his game.
On that note, Miller talked about his leadership potential.
"I was 19 when I first got here. It's a little different now. It kind of happened so fast but that was one of the things I was worried about coming into the season. I want to be more of a leader and lead by example and be a consistent 82-game player. I think I can do that. And I think it's time that I stepped up a little bit more in that category."
Kevin Hayes, thanks to his growth potential and current skill set, has been promoted to second-line centre duties.
The signing of David Desharnais takes care of the Rangers fourth-line centre concerns.
That still leaves the third-line without a centre.
Who wants to be the third-line pivot for the Rangers? Here's the candidates: Andrew Desharnais (he's in camp on a PTO); Lias Andersson (they drafted him with the pick that Stepan netted them from Arizona. He's being given every chance to make the team out of camp, but realistically he could use another year of development before landing in the NHL); Filip Chytil (switch out seventh overall pick for 21st overall, but reasons are still the same); and lastly JT Miller.
JT Miller was the Rangers' first-round (15th overall) draft pick back in 2011, and he was selected as a centre.
Throughout his minor-league career, Miller routinely found himself as the pivot on either the first- or second-lines.
When he made the jump to the NHL during the 2012-13 season, he initially played centre. Then the coaching staff deemed him to be a better winger as that would allow him to have fewer defensive responsibilities. He's been a winger -- and a darn good one -- ever since.
With the Rangers short down the middle, Miller is being moved back to his natural position, but can he do it after such a long-time?
Miller certainly thinks so. In fact, every reporter at camp wanted to know his thoughts on the matter, and he obliged:
"I've proved that I can play there before so I was going to feel it out and see how it goes and see where it fits. But obviously whatever responsibility they need me to take on I'm willing to do. It's definitely more of a 200-foot game, even though we play a 200-foot game as a team. But you're really conscious or defensive at first and then kind of break out from there.
"It's a little different from the slashing as a winger all the time. You're getting your feet moving, got to be low and slow and take care of the puck first so you're accountable. I played a lot there in the minors so I'm sure a few games here and in preseason and everything will be back to normal."
Miller certainly seems confident in himself, and why shouldn't he?
He's coming off a breakout campaign that saw him net a career-high 56-points (22G, 34A).
At times, Miller was the Rangers best all-around forward last season. That's quite the accomplishment considering he played on a team that deployed Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Mika Zibanejad, and Mats Zuccarello, among others.
With Stepan now gone to the desert, Mika installed as the top-line pivot, Zucc being Zucc, and Nash being another year older, it's imperative that Miller continues to up his game.
On that note, Miller talked about his leadership potential.
"I was 19 when I first got here. It's a little different now. It kind of happened so fast but that was one of the things I was worried about coming into the season. I want to be more of a leader and lead by example and be a consistent 82-game player. I think I can do that. And I think it's time that I stepped up a little bit more in that category."
He may have been 19 when he first arrived by he'll be 25 before the playoffs begin in April.
He's no spring chicken anymore, and he certainly carries himself with the confidence and swagger of a veteran. All of which bodes well for him as he attempts to get back to his roots and play the centre position yet again.
If his comments and work ethic are any indication, this move back to centre should be a rousing success.
He's no spring chicken anymore, and he certainly carries himself with the confidence and swagger of a veteran. All of which bodes well for him as he attempts to get back to his roots and play the centre position yet again.
If his comments and work ethic are any indication, this move back to centre should be a rousing success.
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