J.T. Miller Proving Rangers Right For Selecting Him At 15

When the New York Rangers selected J.T. Miller 15th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, many, including myself, were unsure of the quality of that selection.  Players with bigger name recognition and reportedly higher upside were still on the board when the Rangers took Miller.  Thus far Miller is doing everything he can to quell the doubters and reward the Rangers for their faith in his abilities.  Miller got better and better as training camp wore on and that has continued since reporting to the Plymouth Whalers (OHL).

In 21 games for Whalers Miller has 11 goals and 14 assists while playing to a plus-four rating.   Miller has more multi-point games (6) then scoreless efforts thus far (5).  That is the kind of impact and consistency that you want to see from a prospect at the Junior level.  Lots of players can have a huge night occasionally, but don’t back those performances up with production game in and game out.

Jess Rubenstein at The Prospect Park has some early thoughts on Miller through his first 21 games in Juniors…

And what can we say we have learned about Miller after 21 games? He is much stronger physically than he looks as we have watched him go up against players his size and bigger (he is 6'1 200 according to NYR).

Miller has an extremely fast shot release that if he is set up ready to shoot is almost impossible to stop if he is on target. Miller keeps his game simple, no trick shots, no trying for the highlight reel stuff as he has his fundamentals down pat.

Miller is also very much a team player which we like because he adapts to those he is playing with not waiting on them adapting to him. Miller is also a much harder worker than anyone has given him credit for.

The combination of toughness, hard work and playing a simple game makes J.T. Miller a perfect fit for the system that John Tortorella wants the Rangers to play.  The fact that is the fit for the system is one of the understated aspects of the Rangers rebuilding process because the Rangers will take the player with less hype and name recognition to get the type of player they want.  Miller brings consistency, and flexibility to a lineup and combining that with his skills could make him a threat to be on Broadway in short order.

Did J.T. Miller Play His Way Onto Europe Roster Last Night

Originally when the New York Rangers left for Europe follow Monday’s preseason game with the Flyers there were going to be 31 players (18F, 10D, 3G) making the trip.   Those plans have changed.  Jesse Spector tweeted that coach John Tortorella has decided to add an extra forward along with one more defender to the trip.  The addition of more players to the trip is not huge news, but what created the buzz was Tortorella saying that the additional forward earned their way on the plane with last night’s game.

The best forwards for the Rangers last night that were not already on the NHL roster were Dale Weise, John Mitchell and J.T. Miller.  My gut reaction to the additional forward was that it was Weise now going, but as others have pointed out Weise and Mitchell were likely already making the trip so Miller could be the guy.  If Miller does make the trip it will be a nice cap to an impressive couple weeks for the 2011 first round pick.  Miller struggled at the beginning of Traverse City, but has been getting better with each passing game and the more the games are against pro level talent, the better he has played.  His strength and playmaking instincts have been on display and the glimpses of what Miller can become in a few seasons are exciting for Rangers fans.

The defender being added to the list is as cover for Marc Staal as he continues his recovery from concussion issues.  Speaking of Staal, there was concern earlier today when he was not at practice, but it was a scheduled absence to see a concussion specialist.

Rangers Prospect J.T. Miller Guaranteeing Himself A Spot On USA WJC Team?

The move by the New York Rangers to select J.T. Miller 15th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft has been questioned by many, but Miller is doing his best this week at Team USA’s National Junior Evaluation Camp.  Miller has been one of the standouts this week for Team USA by using his skating, strength and willingness to go the front of the net to have a consistent impact in each game.  Chris Peters at United States of Hockey has seen enough of Miller this week to consider him a virtual lock for the WJC team this year.

J.T. Miller – The one thing Miller has consistently done in the tournament is use his speed incredibly well. He’s strong in his skates and beats defensemen with his legs. The one thing he’ll have to avoid is penalty trouble, which he got into against Finland. That said, if he continues to wheel like this, it’s going to be impossible to leave him off the squad.

Miller making the WJC team would be an excellent thing for his development due to the extra games and the competition level he will face in the tournament.  More importantly than that, reading the reports on how Miller has played this week gives Rangers fans an even better idea of the type of game that Miller plays.  Questions about his upside in terms of skill will likely remain in the short-term, but the fact that he fits the Rangers mold of hard-working, relentless players only furthers the understanding of why he was the selection as opposed to some of the players considered to have more talent.  Miller appears to have the power forward mentality, which for the improvements the Rangers have made on the ice and in the system is something they have not truly developed to this point.  The hope is certainly that both Chris Kreider and Miller will fill that void in the near future.

J.T. Miller Invited To Team USA Evaluation Camp For 2012 WJC Team

USA hockey announced the 40 players selected to be a part of their National Junior Evaluation camp this month.  The evaluation camp is held from August 6-13 and New York Rangers first round selection J.T. Miller will be amongst the 40 players in attendance.  The players will be competing for spots on the United States team for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be played from, Dec. 26, 2011-Jan. 5, 2012, in Calgary and Edmonton Alberta, Canada. 

This camp for Miller, like the Canadian one for Christian Thomas, are excellent steps in their development as it allows them more time on the ice with elite competition while getting world class instruction.  Having these two players playing against the best their respective countries has to offer for a week of drills and scrimmages in hopes of making the WJC team will only further their overall development and increase their preparation for both Traverse City and Rangers training camp next month.

Rangers First Rounder J.T. Miller Signs With Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

According to Chris Johnston New York Rangers 2011 first round selection J.T. Miller has signed to play with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).  After Miller signed his entry level contract with the Rangers yesterday there was a lot of speculation about where he would be playing next season, but at least for now the intention is to have Miller spend the year in the OHL and let him develop without using up his entry-level contract.  While each prospect is different, spending the year in the OHL working on his game is likely the best thing for Miller long-term as opposed to being rushed to the professional ranks and competing with men in the AHL.

Would Rangers Sign J.T. Miller This Year?

When J.T. Miller was selected by the New York Rangers 15th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft he was headed to the prestigious college hockey program at the University of North Dakota.  Last week it was announced that Miller was backing out on that commitment and planning to play for Plymouth in the OHL next season.  Over at Hockey Buzz, Julie Robenhymer openly wonders if that plan will change again and see Miller sign with the Rangers and play in the AHL this season.  The chances of that happening are extremely slim, even though it is technically possible.

Video: Gordie Clark Discusses J.T. Miller Comparing Him To Dubinsky, Mike Richards

There is no one b.etter to talk about why the New York Rangers selected J.T. Miller with the 15th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft than Director of Player Personnel Gordie Clark.  Jim Cerny did just that with Clark for the Rangers official website and Clark shared some interesting thoughts on Miller and his game.  The discussion of Miller's versatility, playmaking and work ethic and effort should make fans happy.  One of the easiest things for fans to wrap their heads around when talking about a player is who that player compares to that is playing now.  During the course of his comments, Clark compared Miller to current Rangers' forward Brandon Dubinsky and new Kings' center Mike Richards.  If Miller plays that same sort of all-around, abrasive game and develops in a similar fashion than Rangers fans will stop questioning the pick and and be elated with the results.

J.T. Miller Fits System/Mold Of What Rangers Want To Be

Once again the New York rangers and Gordie Clark went off the board to take the player they wanted with their first round selection.  Just because J.T. Miller was not connected to the Rangers by the experts does not mean it was a bad pick.  The act that players that were connected or said to be of better quality were still on the board does not make it a bad selection either.  Gordie Clark has shown enough in his year’s running the New York Rangers drafts that when he selects a guy that he wants, that fits our system, you trust his judgment.

J.T. Miller checks in at 6-foot-1, 200-pounds but can still add more to his frame.  He uses that size to play an energetic and physical game, though reports to say he will have to add strength, as most draftees do.   Miller will be yet another player thast fits the tough, physical, hard-working style the team has been taking on over the past few years.  He is willing to go to the dirty areas and has the ability to play all three forward positions, which will give the Rangers excellent flexibility with him down the line.  The Rangers are showing over and over again that the makeup of the individual is just as important to them as the talent level.  They want smart hockey players, who work hard and will play on both ends of the ice.  Miller is certainly that..

Per Steve Zipay of Newsday, Gordie Clark had the following to say about why they chose Miller at 15.

"...there was no one (on the board) that had all the qualities that JT had. There could be someone who will score more goals, there could be somebody that's going to be a faster skater, but if you want to put size with skating with character with grit with work ethic with playmaking ability and scoring ability, no one had all those qualities in their game. He had them all."

"he's like a Dubi (Brandon Dubinsky), Mike Richards. Every shift he expends everything he's got...He started coming up in a lot of the rankings from April because he was really one of the best players in the tournament in April. ...He validated what we had seen all year."

The mistake many of us, including myself, make in looking at who the Rangers might select in the draft is looking through video or scouting reports and looking for the most skilled players that might be on the board in that spot.  The Rangers certainly value skill, but the value complete players even more than pure skill and they want players that are willing to work.  If J.T. Miller turns into Brandon Dubinsky or Mike Richards, then we will have another time where the fans were uneasy on draft night, but when time went by Gordie Clark was once again proven right.