The Rangers went 15-14-3 after buying J.T. Miller, in addition to Jackson Dorrington and the since-traded Erik Brannstrom, from the Canucks on Jan. 31 in change for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a 2025 first-round choose.
Miller was like a shot of adrenaline in one thing that was almost useless at first, but it surely pale quick and wasn’t sufficient to propel the Rangers to the playoffs.
In spite of everything, no person was going to have the ability to do this alone.
In 32 video games with the Rangers this season, Miller completed with 13 objectives and 22 assists for 35 factors — the identical quantity he posted in his first 40 video games with the Canucks earlier within the season.
“Especially the older you get, you really want to be playing this time of year,” Miller stated after the Rangers’ season finale on Thursday. “But, this is where we’re at. We can’t change it. It sucks, but at the same time, I think on a personal level, it’s been a long year. I’m going to enjoy some family time. We don’t get these opportunities very often, but get some time with the families right now.”
The scenario with Miller in Vancouver evidently grew to become untenable for all events concerned. The rumored rift between Miller and Elias Pettersson gave the impression to be a serious distraction, which was additional confirmed Friday.
“Did it get uncomfortable? Yeah,” Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet advised reporters through the Canucks’ breakup day.
Pettersson stated: “Yeah, maybe we weren’t the best of friends, but we respected each other as teammates.”
Nobody benefited from Miller’s arrival greater than Mika Zibanejad. Peter Laviolette hooked Zibanejad as much as Miller instantly and it proved to be one of many higher strikes the Rangers head coach made all season.
Via 50 video games on Jan. 31, Zibanejad had totaled 9 objectives and 20 assists for 29 factors.
Over the ultimate 32 contests, whereas logging 259:15 of ice time subsequent to Miller, Zibanejad posted 11 objectives and dished 22 assists for 33 factors. He was the third-highest producer on the workforce over that span, behind solely Miller (35) and Artemi Panarin (37).
“I don’t know, we missed the playoffs, so clearly nothing drastic happened,” Miller stated of his notion of the workforce earlier than and after he arrived. “I feel like this is a good fit for me. I’m so excited to be back here and I had a lot of fun with these guys while I was here. It just sucks we came out and lost a couple too many games, but we’ll re-rack in the summer.”
The Rangers are anticipated to conduct breakup day Monday.
Chytil advised reporters in Vancouver on Friday that he cleared concussion protocol.
The previous Ranger missed the ultimate 16 video games of the season.
