Ex-Canucks star Miller is running out of answers in New York and Rangers fans are livid
It’s starting to look like the trade that neither team won.
Almost a year has gone by since the Vancouver Canucks traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers in exchange for a first-round pick, Filip Chytil and Victor Mancini.
Perhaps the Canucks would have won the trade if they hadn’t flipped the 12th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a package that saw Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor join the Canucks. Instead, the deal has been mutually detrimental.
The Rangers haven’t been rewarded for their big bet on Miller. Although he was productive last season, New York still missed the playoffs. And, much like the Canucks, the 2025-26 season has been a disaster.
Miller and the Rangers have the worst points percentage. (.489) in the Eastern Conference. They’ve lost three straight games, including a 10-2 drubbing at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Saturday, followed by a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Monday night.
After the loss, Miller was running out of answers for his team’s lack of success.
I don’t think it’s for a lack of effort,” Miller said following the loss. “It’s just mistakes…just some things we need to clean up.”
Sounds like Miller is reading from the Adam Foote playbook of talking to the media.
When a reporter followed up and asked what his message was to the group after the loss, the Rangers captain didn’t have much of an answer.
“I didn’t say anything….Yeah, I don’t know what to say,” Miller replied. “We’re going to try and have a good practice tomorrow and get ready for the next game.”
That wasn’t the first time Miller would use the words “I don’t know.”
He was also asked if he felt the energy of his group dipped after the first period.
“I don’t know,” he responded. “I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
J.T. Miller was asked if there was a dip in energy after the first period:
"I don't know. I'm sorry, I don't know" pic.twitter.com/UFi0s6pxZC
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 13, 2026
“Wake me up when this nightmare is over,” one fan said.
“Hope he demands a trade soon!” said another.
Guess it didn’t take long for the Rangers’ “No B.S.” motto to blow up in their faces.
Some fans did jump to his defence, including one who said, “Itās wild fans are already turning on J.T. Miller. Heās been hurt all season.”
However, most Rangers fans weren’t accepting that as an excuse.
“Iām not turning on him,” one fan replied. “I hated the trade from the beginning and never wanted him as captain.”
“Is he hurt or injured? There is a difference,” another fan said. “I think they should shut him down, but they won’t ’cause of the Olympics. I’ve been a fan for 45+ years. This is bad, folks, and it will not get better for a few years.”
Speaking of a few years, one Rangers fan asked an important question.
“Wow, we are paying this guy until what year?
Miller is in year three of a seven-year contract where he makes $8 million per season. He’s under contract until 2030.