JT Miller went high.
Despite his ugly Canucks departure, Rangers Center praised his previous organization.
Miller will face the Canucks for the first time on Saturday since January's blockbuster work was sent to the Rangers for their second stint in New York.
The Rangers won the Miller along with the prospects of Eric Branstrom (they then sent to the Sabres) and Jexon Dorington in exchange for Philip Cheetill, Victor Mancini and the 2025 first-round pick.
“There's nothing but great,” Miller said of how he reflected his time with the Canucks after practice Friday. “I raised my three children there. My wife and I have a lot of friends outside the game. There's something I won't forget, that's something I won't forget.
Miller spent more than five seasons with the Canucks, but left it to sour notes.
In reports that he and the other star center on the team, Elias Petterson, were not getting along well, President Jim Rutherford confirmed the rift between the two, suggesting that trade was the only resolution.
“Everyone, including those involved, has been working on it, so I've long felt there's a solution here,” Rutherford told Globe and the Email in January. “But it only resolves for a short period of time and then fests again, so there doesn't seem to be a good solution to bring this group together.”
The 32-year-old Miller signed a seven-year, $56 million extension with Vancouver, which began last year, and also posted a career-high 103 points.
But it didn't take him long for him to be at the heart of trade rumours this year.
Although he admitted that his career requires a “fresh start,” Miller said when asked if he had resented the Canucks about how his tenure ended.
“No, I'm not mad at them,” Miller said. “We have 12 games left and we have to win a lot of them, and that's the only thing I'm worried about.”
After spending his first five seasons with the Rangers, who drafted him with the No. 15 overall pick in 2011, he was traded for the Lightning and appeared as one of the league's main centers before trading part of the two seasons with the Canucks.
Miller led the Canucks by points three times and was the second leading scorer this year before trading.
Since returning to New York, Miller has scored 18 points in 20 games.
His first crack on his old side has his current side in a free fall, losing seven of seven of the past nine games (2-5-2), and now sitting two points from the final wildcard spot.
Perhaps one leader who stands up to the team that abandoned him can provide the ranger with the spark he needs.
“Yeah, I think we can,” coach Peter Laviolet said Friday.
The Canucks are fighting for their playoff hopes.
There is a way to revenge on the line.
“Some of my best friends are on that team,” Miller said. “We're having dinner tonight, but when tomorrow comes, it's war. I think we all understand that. I think it's anyway. When you get out there, it's all business. They need points. We're in the same place.
