The day finally arrived J.T. Miller is back at Rogers Arena to take on his former teammates on the Vancouver Canucks. In a different stage of his NHL career, such distractions could’ve been for Miller to get carried away. However, the captain is committed to the bit in the Big Apple. He made that clear with a powerful message for his head coach Mike Sullivan and the rest of the New York Rangers.
Arriving in the city brought back all sorts of emotions for Miller, whose exit from Vancouver last NHL season was anything but peaceful. Now, the time has come for the 32-year-old veteran to face the music in the Saltwater City. Despite the many distractions surrounding him, Miller has made one thing clear to Sullivan and the Rangers.
“It’s going to be emotional for me, no doubt. Just trying to worry at our task for the Rangers. I know the emotion is going to be there, I’m just trying to use it to the best of my abilities. We need to get a win,” Miller told reporters during a lengthy chat with local media before the game.
“Playing a complete 60-minute game for the Rangers, that’s what we’re worried about. I understand there’s going to be some emotions, but my focus right now is making sure we play the right way as a team.”
Wired like that
With Miller, many of the critics around his game revolve around his fiery temper, which is impossible to miss when things head south for his teams in the NHL. During his time in Vancouver, Miller wasn’t a captain, but he never stuttered to share his thoughts with the rest of the team. Some players thrive when pressured, others crumble. That was made clear as Pettersson and Miller drifted apart.
“I understand. There were a lot of ups and downs when I was here [in Vancouver], it wasn’t like it was smooth-sailing all the time,” Miller reflected on his growth as a captain. “I embrace who I am as a human and a player, and emotion comes with that. Obviously, it’s not going to be pretty all the time, but it’s just something to deal with. Now, [that I’m a captain] I understand there’s a little extra weight on me to dial it on a daily basis.”
Two sides to the story
It was very polarizing. The same player the Canucks shipped off, in part due to his demeanor, was named the 29th captain in Rangers franchise history. Clearly, there’s something New York sees in Miller that makes its eyes light up—while it made Vancouver roll its own, or at least it did for Pettersson, leaving the Canucks with no choice. Either way, it’s all in the past, but not totally forgotten, as the two sides face off in a heated meeting neither can afford to lose.