J.T. Miller 'in a better place mentally' after leaving Vancouver Canucks
Former Vancouver Canucks star J.T. Miller has had a long season.
The 31-year-old was at the centre of a public feud with Canucks star and former teammate Elias Pettersson, took a lengthy personal leave of absence, dealt with injuries, and was traded across the continent.
You could fill a book with the different Miller storylines from this season. So is it any surprise that he seems to be enjoying life a lot more after being traded to the New York Rangers?
“It’s been nice to just be enjoying hockey again: showing up and enjoying work and being in a better place mentally,” said Miller, per The Athletic’s Peter Baugh.
This isn’t Miller’s first time on the Rangers. He was drafted by the team and played more than five seasons during his first tenure with the club. That familiarity has undoubtedly helped ease the transition.
The Rangers also have Miller’s long-time friend Vincent Trocheck. Miller and his wife Natalie lived with the Trocheck’s after the trade went through and the two seem thrilled to be playing on the same team.
“It’s very special,” said Miller back in February about the Trochecks taking his family in. “I mean that in the sense of you feel like you’re going to family… when you get traded to a new place, you can have that little awkward stage, and I feel like I didn’t really have that coming back to a familiar place.”
Miller’s on-ice results have improved by leaps and bounds with his new team. He had just nine goals and 35 points in 40 games with the Canucks. He’s nearly matched that goal total in far fewer games with the Rangers. So far, with his new team, he has seven goals and 16 points in 15 contests.
The two-way centre’s strong play has helped give the Rangers new life in their playoff race. They’re two points out of the final Wild Card spot, although they have played an extra game compared to some of the teams they’re going against.
The Rangers will face tough competition for that playoff spot, as there are currently five teams within five points of the Columbus Blue Jackets in that second Wild Card spot.