Rangers found the ideal pick in J.T. Miller for their new captain

Rangers Appoint JT Miller as Captain

Chris Dolly, president and general manager of the Rangers, was clear: he didn’t want to kick off the season without a captain. It’s worth noting that a team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup without a captain in 53 years. This is particularly relevant considering Chris Drury’s extensive 12-year playing career before he took on his role in the Rangers’ front office back in the 2015-16 season.

Head coach Mike Sullivan described the process as a “broad process” that involved the team’s leadership group, ultimately leading them to appoint JT Miller as the 29th captain in the franchise’s history.

At a Wednesday press conference, Drury shared, “Well, I played for a long time. Mike played for a long time. Where this organization is, and where this team is, I believe it’s crucial to fill that role effectively. For us, Mike was brought in to ensure the right choice was made, and we’ve seen it all over the organization.”

He added, “I wasn’t going to name someone just to say we had a ‘C’ without selecting the right person. There were several strong candidates, but JT rose to the top for us.”

Though Sullivan hadn’t yet been on the ice with the entire team, he seemed quite confident about the decision to name Miller their captain. His recent interactions with Miller during February’s NHL 4 Nations face-off tournament were likely influential. Additionally, Sullivan had a brief overlap with Miller during his time as an assistant coach for the Rangers in the 2012-13 season.

Drury remarked, “I thought it was the ideal moment to make this announcement right before camp starts. We weren’t keen on beginning camp without a captain. It’s obvious that Mike sees this as a fantastic choice. He’ll bring everyone together and push them when needed—that’s exactly what we require.”

In other news, Braden Schneider, who had shoulder surgery after last season, will not participate in the team’s Intrasquad scrimmage during training camp. However, Drury mentioned that Schneider would be in a different colored jersey and can still engage in contact.

Aside from the scrimmage, Schneider is expected to play in two of his final three preseason games.

On a different note, Drury was tight-lipped regarding the ongoing contract negotiations with Artemi Panarin, who will need a new deal after this season. He acknowledged Panarin’s significance to the team, saying, “He’s a huge part of our team and organization. He doesn’t seem to slow down at all, and it’s clear he takes the offseason seriously.”