Exclusive Interview: New York Rangers Explain Reasoning Behind Naming J.T. Miller As Captain
The New York Rangers selected J.T. Miller as the team's 29th Captain in history. The team made an obvious selection with Miller, as Chris Drury and Mike Sullivan had discussions with the former 1st-round draft pick before placing the patch on his uniform.
The New York Rangers chose J.T. Miller as the team's 29th Captain. Miller, once a polarizing player in the Vancouver Canucks locker room, has been burdened with the purpose of taking the team back to the playoffs.
On January 31st, he'd return to the team that drafted him and elevated the play of those around him. He'd give Mika Zibanejad a new life on the wing and take the reins ahead of schedule.
The New York Rangers Explain Why They Chose J.T. Miller as the Newest Captain
Miller isn't controversy-free either; he's been known for his outrage, destroying equipment, and criticizing the media around him.
The move could be seen as detrimental to some Canucks, and Rangers fans, but Chris Drury and Mike Sullivan had a brief discussion about the role before giving him the honors of being the next captain, after Jacob Trouba.
«When Chris [Drury] and I both talked to him about leadership, and being the captain of the team, that was part of the conversation,» Sullivan told Walker and the media in New York.
«I think J.T. has really matured over the course of his career.»
«I think J.T. has really matured over the course of his career.»
Miller isn't without blame either for some of his moments being overtaken by passion, leading to questionable antics, especially in Vancouver. This has opened him up to public criticisms, which persist.
Though Sullivan and Drury were dead set on him being the one player who could lead the team back to the promised land.
«When you go through challenges like that, I think that's when people learn the most,» Sullivan said. «I think J.T. has really taken the right approach to his career, both on the ice and off the ice. The type of teammate that he is. I think sometimes those guys tend to be misunderstood.»
«He's a fierce competitor,» Sullivan said. «He tends to wear his emotions right on his sleeve. His intentions are in the right place. He wants to win in the worst way, and we love that about him.»
«We don't want that aspect of his personality to change. We want him to be himself.»
«We don't want that aspect of his personality to change. We want him to be himself.»
He can set himself up to be a role model for younger players if he continues to play a hard-nosed game that coach Sullivan can rely upon. But he'll need to channel his anger and passion into more progressive means of communication rather than letting it control him if he's to maintain influence in a locker room that's been riddled with strife recently.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 29 | 69 ANSWERS Exclusive Interview: New York Rangers Explain Reasoning Behind Naming J.T. Miller As Captain Was making forward J.T. Miller the New York Rangers Captain the right choice? | ||
| Yes | 54 | 78.3 % |
| No | 15 | 21.7 % |
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