J. T. Miller

J. T. Miller
Miller during a game in 2023
Born (1993-03-14) March 14, 1993 (age 31)
East Palestine, Ohio, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Vancouver Canucks
New York Rangers
Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL draft 15th overall, 2011
New York Rangers
Playing career 2012–present

Jonathan Tanner Miller (born March 14, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] He has previously played for the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was selected by the Rangers in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2011 NHL entry draft. A versatile forward, Miller can play as a center or winger.

Early life

Miller grew up in a residential area in East Palestine, Ohio, blocks away from the East Palestine City School District campus, attending kindergarten through 10th grade.[2] He began playing ice hockey at a young age and also participated in other organized athletics, including baseball and football. Miller played for several ice hockey teams from the age of five through 12 before ending up with the Pittsburgh Hornets from age 12 to age 16, as at the time his family was living in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis.[3] Miller played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Pittsburgh Hornets minor ice hockey team.[4] In 2009, Miller moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to participate in USA Hockey's two-year National Team Development Program (U.S. NTDP).

Playing career

Amateur

Miller began the 2009–10 season with the U.S. NTDP of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[5] After two seasons playing in the program, he was selected in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2011 NHL entry draft by the New York Rangers.[6]

For the 2011–12 season, Miller transitioned to major junior ice hockey, joining the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Towards the latter stage of the season, he then joined the Connecticut Whale, the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for their run in the 2012 Calder Cup playoffs. He registered one assist in eight playoff games, and after Connecticut was eliminated, Miller was added to the Rangers' roster for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.[7]

Professional

New York Rangers

Miller joined the Rangers organization for the 2012–13 season. After beginning the season with the Connecticut Whale of the AHL, Miller was recalled by the Rangers on February 5, 2013.[8] On February 7, Miller scored his first two NHL goals in a 4–1 win against the New York Islanders.[9] After the Whale's season concluded, Miller was added to the Rangers' 2013 playoffs roster, but did not play in a game.[10]

Miller with the Rangers in October 2014.

Miller split time between the Rangers and the Hartford Wolf Pack during the 2013–14 season. At the end of Wolf Pack's season, Miller was once again added to the Rangers' 2014 playoffs roster, making his Stanley Cup playoffs debut in game five of the Rangers' first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, recording an assist on a Brad Richards goal, in a 4–2 win.[11] Ultimately, Miller played in four playoffs games, recording two assists as the Rangers lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals.

Miller finally secured a full-time roster spot with the Rangers during the 2014–15 season, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 58 games. Miller agreed to a one-year contract extension on July 15.[12]

Miller had a breakout season in 2015–16, scoring 22 goals and 21 assists, at times finding himself on the Rangers' top line with Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello. After the season, Miller signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with New York.[13] His play improved during the 2016–17 season, finishing the season with 22 goals and 34 assists for a career-high 56 points.

During the 2018 NHL Winter Classic, Miller scored the game-winning goal in a 3–2 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres.[14]

Tampa Bay Lightning

On February 26, 2018, Miller was traded, along with Ryan McDonagh, to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Libor Hájek, Brett Howden, Vladislav Namestnikov, a 2018 first-round pick and a conditional 2019 second-round pick.[15] On March 13, in a 7–4 Lightning loss to the Ottawa Senators, Miller scored his first NHL hat trick.[16] On June 26, Miller signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract with the Lightning.[17]

Vancouver Canucks

Miller (center) with the Canucks in 2023.

On June 22, 2019, on the second day of the 2019 draft, Miller was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Marek Mazanec, a 2019 third-round pick and a conditional 2020 first-round pick.[18] On October 28, during a 7–2 win over the Florida Panthers, Miller scored his 100th NHL goal.[19] During the 2019–20 season, Miller would achieve the greatest all-around season of his career up until that point.[20] In his first season with the Canucks, Miller would either tie for the lead, or outright lead the team in goals (27), assists (45) and points (72) during the regular season, as well as tie for the playoff points lead (18).

On September 2, 2022, Miller signed a seven-year, $56 million contract extension with the Canucks.[21] On April 11, 2023, Miller scored his 200th NHL goal during the Canucks' penultimate game of the season, a 3–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.[22]

On January 13, 2024, Miller was named an NHL All-Star for the first time in his career.[23] He finished the 2023–24 season with 37 goals, 66 assists, and 103 points; setting career highs in goals and points while reaching 100 points in a season for the first time in his career.

International play


Miller at the 2012 World Junior Championship
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  United States
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Ufa
IIHF World U18 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2011 Germany
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Gold medal – first place 2010 Ontario

Miller represented the United States junior team at the 2012 World Junior Championships, where he played in six games, scoring two goals and two assists.[24][25] He was also selected to represent the United States at the 2013 World Junior Championships, where he led the team with seven assists and tied for the team lead with nine points, winning a gold medal in the process.[26]

Miller represented Team North America, a team consisting of players aged 23 and under, in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but only appeared in one game.[27]

Personal life

Miller and his wife have two daughters and one son.[28][29]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 29 5 7 12 32 — — — — —
2009–10 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 17 10 9 19 47 — — — — —
2009–10 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2010–11 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 21 3 12 15 48 — — — — —
2010–11 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 35 12 23 35 38 — — — — —
2011–12 Plymouth Whalers OHL 61 25 37 62 61 13 2 8 10 18
2011–12 Connecticut Whale AHL — — — — — 8 0 1 1 2
2012–13 Connecticut Whale AHL 42 8 15 23 29 — — — — —
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 26 2 2 4 8 — — — — —
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 30 3 3 6 18 4 0 2 2 2
2013–14 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 41 15 28 43 47 — — — — —
2014–15 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 18 6 9 15 12 — — — — —
2014–15 New York Rangers NHL 58 10 13 23 23 19 1 7 8 2
2015–16 New York Rangers NHL 82 22 21 43 46 5 0 3 3 4
2016–17 New York Rangers NHL 82 22 34 56 21 12 0 3 3 21
2017–18 New York Rangers NHL 63 13 27 40 28 — — — — —
2017–18 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 19 10 8 18 12 17 2 6 8 15
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 75 13 34 47 30 4 0 2 2 0
2019–20 Vancouver Canucks NHL 69 27 45 72 47 17 6 12 18 14
2020–21 Vancouver Canucks NHL 53 15 31 46 43 — — — — —
2021–22 Vancouver Canucks NHL 80 32 67 99 47 — — — — —
2022–23 Vancouver Canucks NHL 81 32 50 82 60 — — — — —
2023–24 Vancouver Canucks NHL 81 37 66 103 58 13 3 9 12 8
NHL totals 799 238 401 639 441 91 12 44 56 66

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2010 United States U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 5 4 9 28
2011 United States WJC18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 4 9 13 6
2012 United States WJC 7th 6 2 2 4 0
2013 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 2 7 9 2
2016 Team North America WCH 5th 1 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 25 13 22 35 36
Senior totals 1 0 0 0 0

Awards and honors

Award Year
NHL
NHL All-Star Game 2024
Vancouver Canucks
Fred J. Hume Award 2020
Pavel Bure Most Exciting Player Award 2022
Cyrus H. McLean Trophy 2022
Three Stars Award 2022

References

  1. ^ Leonard, Pat (November 29, 2014). "Rangers recall J.T. Miller to replace grieving Chris Kreider in Saturday's lineup vs. Flyers following death of Kreider's grandfather". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  2. ^ "Miller joins Lightning's quest". The Morning Journal. February 27, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018. The 24-year-old Miller attended East Palestine schools through his sophomore year
  3. ^ Molinari, Dave (June 24, 2011). "NHL Draft: Coraopolis's Miller ranks high among power forwards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. ^ "Two Team USA Forwards Commit to North Dakota". USHL. October 27, 2010. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  6. ^ "First-rounder Miller agrees to terms". New York Rangers. July 28, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  7. ^ Gourlie, M. (May 15, 2012). "McIlrath added to Rangers playoff roster". Moose Jaw Times-Herald. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  8. ^ "Rangers recall Miller, Mashinter". American Hockey League. February 5, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  9. ^ "Rookie J.T. Miller scores twice, leads Rangers past Islanders". ESPN. February 7, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "Rangers call up 10 players from Whale". New York Rangers. April 28, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  11. ^ Leonard, Pat (April 27, 2014). "J.T. Miller has successful playoff debut for NY Rangers in 4-2 win over Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Peters, Chris (July 15, 2015). "Rangers re-sign RFAs J.T. Miller, Jesper Fast to short-term deals". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  13. ^ "Rangers, Miller agree to contract extension". National Hockey League. June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  14. ^ "Special goal for J.T. Miller in big win for Rangers at Winter Classic". National Hockey League. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  15. ^ "Lightning acquire D Ryan McDonagh, F J.T. Miller from New York Rangers". NHL.com. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  16. ^ "Hoffman scores twice, Senators win to stop Lightning run". sportsnet.ca. March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  17. ^ "Lightning re-sign forward J.T. Miller to five-year contract". NHL.com. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  18. ^ "Canucks acquire J.T. Miller from Lightning for Mazanec, draft picks". Sportsnet.ca. June 22, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  19. ^ Kevin Woodley (October 28, 2019). "Panthers' eight-game point streak ends with loss to Canucks". NHL.com. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  20. ^ "Behind J.T. Miller's Breakout Season, Why He Complements Elias Pettersson - The Point Data-driven hockey storytelling that gets right to the point". The Point. February 18, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  21. ^ "Miller agrees to seven-year, $56 million contract extension with Canucks". NHL.com. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  22. ^ Greenspan, Dan (April 11, 2023). "Miller's 200th career goal helps Canucks extend Ducks losing streak to 12 games". TheProvince.com. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  23. ^ Johnston, Patrick (January 13, 2024). "Call it the Canuck-Star game: five players and coach Rick Tocchet named as All-Stars". TheProvince.com. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "Miller makes U.S. World Junior team". New York Rangers. December 22, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  25. ^ "Player Statistics by Team - USA" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  26. ^ "Player Statistics by Team: USA" (PDF). IIHF. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  27. ^ "J.T. Miller". ice.wch2016.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  28. ^ "J.T. Miller embracing journey west, potential of up-and-coming Canucks". Sportsnet. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  29. ^ "In their own words: J.T. Miller". Tampa Bay Lightning. August 20, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by New York Rangers first round draft pick
2011 		Succeeded by