JT Miller’s 2025-2026 season for the Rangers was marked by disappointing results and criticism. His overall production of 17-36-53 in 68 games looked acceptable, but it fell short of point-per-game expectations for a player brought in as the team’s top center. After a preseason injury that he played through, Mika Zibanejad took over as the primary center role. Offensive play-driving declined, with finishing issues and especially power-play effectiveness cited as major problems. Despite weak results, microstats suggested strong two-way contributions, including effective defensive zone puck retrievals and exiting the zone. Shot creation from high-danger passes was a notable outlier, likely tied to the team’s overall chance generation. Injuries and age, along with a stubborn approach to playing through them, also affected the season.
"Miller's overall stat line of 17-36-53 in 68 games is fine on paper, but a far cry from his point per game expectations. Those expectations were relatively fair, given he had hit that mark in five of the previous six seasons. Miller was brought in to be the 1C, and was almost immediately supplanted by Mika Zibanejad after Miller's preseason injury that he insisted on playing through."
"Miller's play driving on offense took a significant hit this past season, though it does appear to be finishing related and not actual chance related. That's a good thing. The Rangers were hot garbage and Miller's inability to finish played a significant role, but the other pieces of his game were still there. His powerplay effectiveness was the biggest culprit. In theory that should return next season, assuming Miller is at full health."
"Miller's microstats are actually very promising and a tad surprising. While it didn't show up on the score sheet or in the standings, it looks like Miller's two-way play was pretty good. The big outlier was a lack of shots off high danger passes, but given how bad the Rangers were, it's probably more about the Blueshirts not generating enough high danger passes or chances. Miller did a lot of the dirty work and was surprisingly effective at defensive zone puck retrievals and existing the zone."
"JT Miller's injuries, age, and a stubbornness to play through injuries just to ensure his spot on Team USA in Februar"
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