Regardless, fans aren’t as concerned about the top-five pick their team owns as they are about the direction of the organization. Namely, plenty of skepticism still surrounds J.T. Miller, the Rangers’ captain. According to a fan survey conducted by The Athletic, New York’s decision to hand the ‘C’ to Miller doesn’t look any better after his first full season back at Madison Square Garden.

Miller left a bad impression in his first year as team captain. Over 2,000 fans participated in the survey, yet virtually none approved of his debut season wearing the ‘C’. According to the results, only 3.1% gave him a grade of A or B. Meanwhile, 43% of fans gave him a D for his first year as captain, while 28.2% remained in the middle, and the remaining 25.8% handed him the worst grade possible: an F.

Heavy scrutiny on Miller

The numbers reflect a common sentiment in New York throughout the season. Reading fans’ takes on social media painted a similar picture. Miller failed to meet expectations in his first season as skipper.

There was no shortage of letdowns for fans in New York throughout the 2025-26 NHL campaign, but most would agree there was none bigger—or harder to comprehend—than Miller’s production and overall impact.

Miller named biggest letdown

In fact, another question in the survey asked which player was the most disappointing, and Miller won by a landslide. A whopping 77.3% of the votes went to the captain, who finished the year with 53 points (17 goals and 36 assists) in 68 games played.

Moreover, he posted the team’s worst plus/minus rating at minus-30. Needless to say, plus/minus can be a deceiving stat and isn’t always the most accurate way to evaluate a player. However, for someone who is supposed to represent the team’s culture, it certainly raises eyebrows around the Big Apple.

Miller vs New York

In the captain’s defense, Miller has been battling narratives ever since the Rangers traded for him in January 2025. Fans have often kicked him while he was down, and his mistakes tend to be exaggerated while his strengths are minimized.

When it comes to their opinion of him, Rangers fans are rarely rational. His 2025-26 campaign was indeed a rough one, but New York had already turned him into a scapegoat long before things went south.

Speaking after the campaign, Miller pointed to his commitment to the organization despite outside opportunities and experiences. “The Olympics were great, but my job is to be here. I haven’t thought about it a whole lot since it happened. The priority is your team here and the responsibility you have to represent the Rangers,” he said according to SNY.

The numbers underline just how difficult things became. The Rangers finished with 77 points, the lowest total in the Eastern Conference, missing the NHL playoffs for a second straight year.

It was not just a team‑wide issue. Miller himself experienced a dip in production, posting 17 goals and 53 points in 53 games, a step back compared to his previous standards. Injuries and inconsistency played a role, but the broader struggles across the roster made it harder to find rhythm, even as Miller salvaged his individual performance despite a rough season.

Despite that, Miller remained a central figure in the locker room, carrying leadership responsibilities during a period where results did not follow.

Offseason brings pressure and uncertainty

Now, attention shifts to what comes next. The Rangers face an important offseason that could reshape the roster, with decisions looming around veteran pieces and the integration of younger talent.

Recent changes already suggest a transition phase, with the organization moving toward a younger core. That places added importance on experienced players like Miller, who could help guide the team through a reset while still contributing on the ice.

The Rangers are not simply looking to improve; they are searching for answers after consecutive disappointing seasons. For Miller, the objective is clear: help bring stability back to a franchise that expects far more than what it has delivered.

New York has become a hotbed of drama for the Rangers in the 2025–26 NHL season. It seems every day there’s a new issue on deck. Recently, GM Chris Drury and the Rangers’ front office were put on notice by top players’ agents, who ranked them as the second-worst-run franchise in the league. Now, another face of the Blueshirts’ leadership is under the microscope, and Miller’s comments on his performance weren’t exactly well received by the fanbase.

“I’m not unhappy with how my season’s gone. There’s been a lot going on around our organization, and it’s been overwhelming. But for my play, I don’t look at it as a step back,” Miller stated, via The Athletic. “I kind of like the way I’ve played and kind of tried to press forward with a lot of things going on.”

NY Rangers fans beg to differ

Through 67 games played in the 2025–26 NHL season, Miller has put up 17 goals and 34 assists (51 points) for the Rangers. His production puts him sixth among New York’s point leaders. The stats may tell one side of the story, but they’re not complete.

Fans in New York have been vocal all year long about Miller’s play, and that has nothing to do with his numbers night in and night out. One of the most frequent criticisms of Miller has been his style of play, with many calling him out for looking a step off and not giving his best effort.

Miller was never the fastest skater, but it often looked like he took it too far. In today’s world, where many strive to look nonchalant, Miller sometimes went too far and looked lackadaisical instead.

Miller might be sending the wrong message

Thus, as the Blueshirts’ captain expressed satisfaction with his performance, it’s easy to see why it might upset some fans in the Big Apple. Moreover, as the team captain of a Rangers squad that finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, it’s not a good look for him to be highlighting his own performance when the numbers don’t jump off the page, and New York’s overall struggles didn’t exclude him. New York really can’t escape the drama.

Some might say that regardless of what Miller said, fans would find a way to be upset about it. But the truth is, now is not the time for anybody to hang medals around their necks, and if the captain sends that message, it could only mean trouble for the culture the Rangers are building—or hoping to build. Miller may have set a bad example for the youth coming up through New York’s prospect pipeline.

Miller praised the fight as a message to the Rangers’ locker room. “It’s just so rare, unexpected,” Miller said, according to Fox Sport. “To see a goalie stick up for himself and have our back sends a message. It shows what a leader he is.”

Forward Mika Zibanejad, who has played alongside both goalies with Team Sweden, couldn’t hide his excitement. “It was awesome. I knew Markstrom is feisty, so when he started skating over, I had a feeling it was gonna happen… a lot of fun to watch,” Zibanejad said, according to Newsday Sports’ Colin Stephenson, smiling throughout.

Shesterkin sets the tone

Shesterkin’s willingness to fight resonated with his teammates, reinforcing toughness and accountability. Even in a difficult season, the gesture highlighted the importance of standing up for each other and leading by example.

Season context and next game

The Rangers, now 31-35-9 and already eliminated from playoff contention, hope moments like this spark energy and focus. They return to the ice Thursday to face the Montreal Canadiens, carrying Shesterkin’s leadership into the next game.

“I don’t think anybody thought we’d be where we are right now eliminated with this many games left, but that’s not where my mindset is now,” Miller admitted, via NHL.com. “We failed in reaching our goal this year. Right now we are just worried about playing good hockey games to end the season.”

Out of the race on March 25, the Rangers hadn’t been eliminated from playoff contention this early in an 82-game season since the 2018–19 NHL campaign. With Sullivan behind the bench, the Broadway Blueshirts are reaching historic lows. However, the two-time Stanley Cup champion sent a positive message to Miller and the rest of the team.

“I told them after the game if we play like that with those intentions and that type of intensity, we are going to win games,” Sullivan stated. “I thought we deserved a better fate tonight. It didn’t happen, but I thought we played a pretty good game.”

NY Rangers’ losing streak

Although Sullivan reignited Rangers fans’ hopes with the debut of Adam Sykora, New York fell again. Following the 4–3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, the Rangers dropped their sixth straight in the 2025-26 NHL campaign. It’s the longest losing streak of the season for them, and they are now entering dangerous territory.

Considering the fact that New York will play its next seven games at Madison Square Garden—where the Rangers are 9–18–7 on the season—there’s a good chance the Blueshirts set a new franchise record for the longest winning drought in the same season. At the moment, the record is held by the 1962 Blueshirts, who lost 10 games in a row.

The Rangers better snap the streak fast, or they could be entering a mental battle against themselves. The weight of history is now on New York’s shoulders, and Sullivan’s side hasn’t been particularly successful at handling such pressure recently.

“I don’t know what to say,” J.T. Miller admitted after the game, per NHL.com. “We got outplayed, we got outcompeted. Things that we’re just not OK with as a group and it’s a shame on a night like tonight.”

Mike Sullivan, who held Drew Fortescue out of his NHL debut, has much work to do if he wants the Blueshirts to finish the 2025–26 season with a slight beacon of hope. If the Rangers don’t show signs of improvement, they could be in for a very long and tiring offseason.

Hearing the culture-changing captain sound defeated amid a five-game losing streak is anything but an encouraging sign for the organization in the City That Never Sleeps. Something has got to change for the Rangers, or they might be another changing of the guard in The Big Apple.

NY Rangers bested by Senators

Scoreboard-watchers may be deceived if they only stick to the 2–1 final on the jumbotron. The action on the ice was anything but reminiscent of a one-score game. Hadn’t it been for Igor Shesterkin’s heroics, the game could’ve been over well before the final frame.

Ottawa outshot New York 33–10. New York’s 10 shots on goal tied their record for least in a game since the NHL tracks such statistic. The Rangers didn’t score until the third period, and it was eventually too little, too late.

In more ways than one, the Blueshirts played like they usually do at home, and the end result stayed the same. Yet another home defeat, and the Rangers are now 9–18–7 at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

“[Miller] has been a big part of the success that this power play has enjoyed. I mean, it’s top 10 in the league,” Sullivan cleared the air on the controversy around Perreault’s demotion to the second unit, via New York Post.

With Miller on the top unit, the Rangers maintained their strong form on the man-advantage. New York has now scored a power play-goal in five of its last six outings in the 2025-26 NHL season. However, it was actually Perreault’s—who assisted Noah Laba—second unit that found the back of the net during the 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

Not all Rangers fans liked the decision

The decision to drop Perreault out of the top power play line made much noise in New York City. The former first-round pick has been playing the best hockey of his NHL career, and many believed a demotion was uncalled for.

Sullivan didn’t beat around the bush, he addressed the noise, and the numbers may prove his decision right. Meanwhile, Miller is standing clear of the controversy. Instead, Miller opened up about the feeling within Sullivan’s team.

The numbers behind NY Rangers’ power play

The 2025-26 NHL campaign is trending to be a tale of two stories for the Broadway Blueshirts. Unfortunately, the bad may far outweigh the good side of it. Still, there’s no reason for New York not to be proud about its latest performances. On that note, the power play coming to life is certainly a reason for jubilation in “The Big Apple”.

The Rangers’ 24.2 power play percentage (PP%) ranks 7th in the NHL. Sullivan and the rest of the team would like to see a bit more consistency out of the special teams, especially when it comes to the production at home. It should come as no surprise as the Rangers have struggled dearly at Madison Square Garden—where they are 9-15-6—but the power play on home games has operated at a 17.6 success rate (22nd in the league). Meanwhile, New York boasts a top 3 power play on the road (29.7 PP%).

Given the way recent years have gone for the Blueshirts, there is no shortage of issues that need fixing. It’s safe to say the power play is not among the main concerns. The debate may center around whether Miller or Perreault should play on the top unit, but the power-play goals keep coming. Thus, there’s no reason for New York to stress. With everything that’s wrong with the Rangers, making a big fuss about the power play would be tilting at windmills.

“This is a good feeling around here right now,” Miller said, via NHL.com and NY Hockey Insider. “Now we’re on the right side of things, but we don’t want to get comfortable with that. We want to keep going and string as many together as we can here. There’s a lot to like right now.”

Miller was still on Injured Reserve (IR) when New York began its sudden rise in the NHL. In his first game back, Miller could see firsthand everything that had been clicking for the Rangers. Sullivan and the Blueshirts are playing with heart once again, and the captain is now active to help on the ice, as well.

Miller’s return to the NY Rangers’ lineup

Some fans expressed concerns about the captain, with many believing the Blueshirts were better off without him. However, as he returned to the lineup—his first game since March 2—the Rangers continued to ride their wave of momentum, securing their fourth straight victory.

Despite his ice-time of 19:15 minutes—the third most time out of every forward on the team—Miller had quite an uneventful night during the Rangers’ visit to the Minnesota Wild. The captain only recorded one shot on goal, putting up no points. New York did just fine, though.

NY Rangers are on the rise

Securing the 4–2 win means the Blueshirts are one victory away from stringing together five straight wins. Such a feat hasn’t been accomplished by New York since the 2023–24 NHL season.

Needless to say, the winds of change are blowing through the Big Apple, where Sullivan has seemingly found his footing and the Blueshirts are trending upward. This season is well out of reach, but the building blocks are being put in place for the Rangers moving forward.

The NHL franchise confirmed earlier this month that he was placed on IR after suffering a new upper-body injury, forcing the veteran forward to miss multiple games while recovering.

The designation means he must remain out for at least several days, leaving the team without its captain during a critical stretch of the schedule. His absence has been notable, as the veteran winger has been an important leader in the locker room.

Could JT Miller play today?

JT Miller is unlikely to play today because he is currently on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The New York Rangers placed their captain on IR in early March, which requires him to miss at least several days while recovering.

Because of that designation, he has already missed multiple games and remained sidelined in the Rangers’ recent matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers, with the team adjusting its forward lines in his absence.

His status for the game against the Calgary Flames therefore remains doubtful unless he receives medical clearance sooner than expected. Even if he progresses in his recovery, NHL teams typically wait until a player can practice fully before activating him from injured reserve.

Mike Sullivan provided an update on the player’s status, saying he has been progressing well: “He’s had a number of skates on his own with our skill guys. He joined the group today. Obviously, that suggests progress”, according to Remy Mastey of The Hockey News.

What happened to JT Miller?

JT Miller suffered a new upper-body injury that forced the Rangers to place him on injured reserve. According to ESPN reports, the injury occurred during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and is unrelated to other physical issues he dealt with earlier in the season.

The incident happened during a physical sequence late in regulation when he became tangled in a net-front battle, after which the team decided to shut him down temporarily to avoid worsening the injury.

The move marked his second stint on injured reserve during a challenging 2025-26 campaign. Before the injury, he had been one of the key contributors this season, recording 14 goals and 38 points in 51 games.

His absence has forced the franchise to shuffle its lines and rely more heavily on players like Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere as they navigate an important stretch of the schedule.

“New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller is going on Injured Reserve (IR) with an upper-body injury,” Mollie Walker of The New York Post reported on her X account. “Word is it’s a different upper-body injury than the one he dealt with earlier this season.”

The news come on the heels of New York’s decision, as reports indicate the Rangers are holding the line amid the Vincent Trocheck trade rumors that swirl around the NHL. Though Sullivan and the Rangers haven’t announced what exactly happened to Miller, fans and media believe they have a good idea.

Reports help clarify Miller’s injury

During New York’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets—which led Sullivan to make a strong admission about the Rangers—Miller was hit by a flying puck in the back of his head and neck area, as reported by Walker of The New York Post. Miller finished the night without medical assistance, but he may have been playing through an injury.

Being a very delicate issue, Sullivan, the Rangers, and the medical staff have decided to take a cautious approach. Plus, it’s not like the Rangers’ NHL season calls for their captain to make such a sacrifice. While the Blueshirts haven’t confirmed the exact nature of the setback, what is indeed a fact is that Miller will now be out of the lineup after being placed on IR.

How many games will Miller miss?

In the NHL, players placed on IR must sit out for a minimum of seven days. During that window, they are permitted to participate in team meetings and practice sessions—typically while sporting a “non-contact” jersey.

Because the Rangers are scheduled for three games over the coming week, J.T. Miller will remain sidelined for the matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs (March 5th at home), the New Jersey Devils (March 7th on the road), and the Philadelphia Flyers (March 9th on the road).

Miller is expected to remain in New York for treatment during the team’s brief road trip, with a potential return date set for March 10th against the Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden. However, an absence extending beyond that week remains a distinct possibility for Captain Miller.

In case the long faces around Madison Square Garden don’t tell the story, a glance at the NHL standings should remind Miller and Sullivan of how dramatic things were before leaving for Milan. It’s time to turn the page, or at least give it a try. If New York won’t even give it a shot, its leaders should simply stay in the Fashion Capital of the World.

As Miller, Sullivan, and Trocheck got a taste of perhaps the most meaningful and rewarding hardware any NHL player could ever claim, they now hope to bring winds of change back to the building in the Big Apple. The mood has now shifted. For Miller and company, it is all about the Rangers back home in New York City. Shortly after Sullivan issued a bold reminder for Miller and the Rangers, the captain returned the favor with a comment of his own.

“It’s why it was so special, and something we’re going to remember forever and have that to share, but we’re back to Rangers hockey now. Party’s over, it’s time to focus, and we need to play some good hockey down the stretch,” Miller admitted to reporters, via @SNYRangers on X.

Miller and Rangers have struggled at home

As demoralizing as the Broadway Blueshirts have been at home, the organization must still find a way to sell tickets at Madison Square Garden. Miller’s statement may serve as hope for the fanbase in New York. Otherwise, fans would have little reason to attend games.

Given the way the season has unfolded in New York, home fans already know what they are signing up for when they arrive at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza in Midtown. Before the Olympic break, the Rangers were 6–15–4 at home. Needless to say, that was—and remains—the worst home record in the Eastern Conference. It’s been the common theme all season long, what the Rangers do poorly, the Vancouver Canucks take to another level. Thus, only the Canucks (6–17–5) have a worse home mark.

As the season resumes, Sullivan and the Rangers know the Stanley Cup Playoffs are out of reach, but at the very least, they hope to offer their fan base something more than a gut-wrenching spectacle at Madison Square Garden.

Rangers could set new records for worst home mark

They say home is where the heart is. For Miller and the Rangers, however, home is where most of their embarrassment has unfolded during the 2025–26 NHL season. Coming out of the Olympic break, New York has 16 home games remaining. The Rangers must truly flip the script, or they risk posting one of the worst home records in franchise history.

According to NHL.com, the worst home mark in franchise history came during the 1943–44 season, when the Blueshirts won just four games on home ice. However, that was during a shortened 50-game schedule. In an 82-game campaign, the low was set in 2003–04, when the team won only 11 games at Madison Square Garden.

The last time New York recorded fewer than 10 home wins in a season was in 1964–65, with eight victories in 35 home games. Numbers do not lie: Sullivan, Miller, and the Rangers are walking a tightrope, with all signs pointing toward a franchise record of the wrong kind in 2025–26.