J. T. Miller

J. T. Miller
Miller with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs
Born	(1993-03-14) March 14, 1993 (age 31) East Palestine, Ohio, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
Position	Center/Left wing
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) at 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 2009–10 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' Stanley Cup playoff roster. ^[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. ^[8] On February 7, he recorded his first two career NHL goals, against Evgeni Nabokov of the New York Islanders in a 4–1 win. ^{[9] [10]} After the Whale season concluded, Miller was added to the Rangers' 2013 playoff roster, but did not play in a game. ^[11]

Miller with the Rangers in October 2014.

Miller wore #47 during the 2012–13 season but switched to #10 for the 2013–14 season. Miller split time between the Rangers and the Hartford Wolf Pack during the season. At the end of the Wolf Pack season, Miller was once again added to the Ranger's playoff roster, making his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 5 of the Rangers’ first round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, recording an assist on a Brad Richards goal. ^[12] 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. ^[13]

Miller had a breakout season in 2015–16, scoring 22 goals and 21 assists, at times finding himself on the Ranger's top line with Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello. After the season, Miller signed a new two-year, $5.5 million contract with New York. ^[14]

Miller set even higher marks during the 2016–17 season. Despite finishing with the same goal total of 22, he recorded 34 assists for a career-high 56 points.

During the 2018 NHL Winter Classic, Miller scored the overtime-winning goal in a 3–2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field in Queens, New York. ^[15]

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 first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. ^[16] On March 13, 2018, in a 7–4 Lightning loss to the Ottawa Senators, Miller scored his first career NHL hat-trick. ^[17] On June 26, 2018, Miller signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract with the Lightning. ^[18]

Vancouver Canucks

Miller (center) with the Canucks in 2023.

On June 22, 2019, on the second day of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Miller was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Marek Mazanec, a third-round pick in the 2019 Draft and a conditional first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. ^[19] On October 28, during a 7–2 win over the Florida Panthers, Miller scored his 100th career goal. ^[20] That season, Miller would achieve the greatest all-around season of his career up until that point. ^[21] 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. ^[22]

On January 13, 2024, Miller was named an NHL All-Star for the first time in his career. ^[23]

International play

Miller at the 2012 World Junior Championship
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing United States
World Junior Championships
	2013 Ufa
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2011 Germany
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
	2010 Ontario

Miller represented the United States junior team at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he played in six games, scoring two goals and two assists. ^{[24] [25]}

Miller was also selected to represent the United States at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey 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 age 23 and under, in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but only appeared in one game. ^[27]

Personal life

Miller and his wife Natalie 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			6	5	4	9	28
2011	United States	WJC18			6	4	9	13	6
2012	United States	WJC	7th		6	2	2	4	0
2013	United States	WJC			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. NHL Draft: Coraopolis's Miller ranks high among power forwards - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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. "J.T. Miller first NHL goal against Islanders". SBNation. February 7, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
10. "New York Islanders at New York Rangers Box Score — February 7, 2013". hockey-reference.com.
11. "Rangers call up 10 players from Whale". New York Rangers. April 28, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
12. Leonard, Pat. “J.T. Miller Has Successful Playoff Debut for NY Rangers in 4-2 Win over Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5.” New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2019, https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/miller-time-rangers-article-1.1771082.
13. Peters, Chris (July 15, 2015). "Rangers re-sign RFAs J.T. Miller, Jesper Fast to short-term deals". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
14. "Rangers, Miller agree to contract extension". National Hockey League. June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
15. "Special goal for J.T. Miller in big win for Rangers at Winter Classic". National Hockey League. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
16. "Lightning acquire D Ryan McDonagh, F J.T. Miller from New York Rangers". NHL.com. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
17. "Hoffman scores twice, Senators win to stop Lightning run". sportsnet.ca. March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
18. "Lightning re-sign forward J.T. Miller to five-year contract". NHL.com. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
19. "Canucks acquire J.T. Miller from Lightning for Mazanec, draft picks". Sportsnet.ca. June 22, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
20. Kevin Woodley (October 28, 2019). "Panthers' eight-game point streak ends with loss to Canucks". NHL.com. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
21. Staff, The Point Editorial (February 18, 2020). "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. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
22. "Miller agrees to seven-year, $56 million contract extension with Canucks". NHL.com. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
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.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Dylan McIlrath	New York Rangers first round draft pick 2011	Succeeded by Brady Skjei