“He is certainly one of the premier impact forwards in the NHL,” said Chris Drury, the New York Rangers GM, in February this year, after he roped in J.T. Miller from the Canucks for a second stint with the team. And yet, the Eastern Conference heavyweights couldn’t secure a spot in the playoffs despite the star addition to their roster. But this season, it could be Miller to end the Rangers’ woes, though the fans aren’t exactly happy about the whole shebang.

The 32-year-old Ohio native was traded to the New York Rangers after his rift with the Canucks’ Elias Pettersson came to light. But it looks like Drury & Co. are firm believers in Miller’s abilities to lead the team into the new era. In a post on X by the official Rangers’ account, news of J.T.’s promotion was shared. “We’re pleased to announce J.T. Miller as the new captain of the New York Rangers,” announced the general manager, evidently beaming at the forward being named the 29th leader of the franchise.

“He’s viewed internally as the embodiment of how the team wants to conduct its business, on and off the ice,” posited The Athletic‘s Chris Johnston via an X post, and it seemed like the Rangers also backed up the thoughts. “Since his arrival last season, J.T. immediately became a leader for our group and exemplifies how we want to conduct ourselves both on and off the ice,” Drury wrote in his statement. Maybe he was talking about how Miller arrived at the Big Apple from Vancouver and made his presence felt without skipping a beat.

J.T. has had an incredible stint with the Canucks as well. In the 2023-24 season, he posted a career-high 37 goals and 103 points with the team. After he was traded to the New York Rangers this year, he bagged 35 points from February 1 to the end of the season, making him the 11th in the League, while Miller was also the only player with at least 35 points and 75 hits during that period (70 points, 160 hits in the 2024-25 season).

With the training camp just around the corner, the top brass must have felt like the Rangers couldn’t head into the new season on a captainless boat. Under such circumstances, Miller’s newfound captaincy could be the game-changer that Drury might be hoping for. No wonder Drury sprinted to name the forward captain after former leader Jacob Trouba left the Rangers in December.

And that’s what seemed to irk the fans. Considering that Miller came into the Rangers’ locker room only to play the final months of the 2024-25 season, fans seem to think naming him the captain wasn’t supposed to be on the cards so soon. “100 years of disappointment,” one fan didn’t hesitate to grumble about Drury’s call. Others seemed to agree.

Fans slam the New York Rangers for the controversial call

Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014, the Rangers have struggled to reach the final stretches of the playoffs. While some industry insiders claim that winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the 2023-24 season could turn out to be the secret to the team’s imminent success, Miller will definitely have a shot at greatness as the new captain of the squad. But fans aren’t too eager to put their eggs in the J.T. basket. “Risky choice,” one fan isn’t convinced by Drury’s decision.

“A guy that has a history of having a strong personality and locker room issues everywhere he’s been,” another fan reminded others about how Miller has had rifts with his teammates everywhere, from the NHL to joining the Tkachuk brothers for a fistfight against Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Now, with Miller being named the Rangers’ captain, another hockey fan believes it only makes the team look laughable. “This is embarrassing for them lolll,” wheezed the fan.

After being traded to Tampa Bay in 2018, Miller’s move back to New York in early 2025 turned a lot of heads. But even Rangers loyalists weren’t prepared to see him take on a new role so soon. “So the guy that you traded came back to captain the team? Means you didn’t REALLY value and believe in him back then but now you’re acting like whoo wee what I great leader,” one fan couldn’t help but roll their eyes with cynicism.

What about? How do you feel about the New York Rangers handing the captain’s armband to J.T.? Tell us below!