Boston – It was not a matter with a blow, not in the long term. JT Miller was not acquired to serve as a short -term dressing.
If the remaining five years on the contract of almost 32 years to an average annual value of $ 8 million did not tell you that, then Chris Drury, the director general who concluded the agreement with Vancouver, did exactly these Hours in advance of the 6-3 defeat of Saturday afternoon against the Bruins. Miller scored two goals in 18:48 in ice time.
“It is certainly an exciting day and was an exciting evening to acquire JT Miller, certainly one of the first NHL impact attackers,” said Drury at a conference call with journalists. “(He) brings a unique combination of competence, size and physics to our team, and not only help us here in the short term, but will be a key element of our nucleus in the future.”
Miller – Acquired as a centerpiece of the agreement in which Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a first protected round went to Vancouver – slipped into the colors of the Rangers for the first time since February 25, 2018, when he marked A goal against the red of the wings in the garden one day before being exchanged in Tampa Bay in the unfortunate agreement which included Ryan McDonagh.
By the way, the Rangers were on their charter flight to Vancouver when the agreement was concluded that day of the deadline. Miller was informed of his fate when the flight landed.
What goes around comes around. Isn’t that what Mark Messier said once?
Miller is expected to fill many emotional whites for the Rangers who have altered the team this experienced season. He’s a straight guy. There is not much gray to his game or his personality. The dynamics will change.
“I think it will have a great impact, not only on the ice but in our room,” said Drury. “And not only for the rest of this year, but to move forward like a big piece of our heart.
“As you all know, he is an excellent 200 -foot player, plays both sides of the washer (plays) the two special teams, has a physical element and has a high level of competition that we are delighted to bring to Our group. “”
Miller, who will wear n ° 8 this time and not his original n ° 10 which now belongs to Artemi Panarin, finished 11th in the Hart voting trophy for MVP a year ago, on a 37 goals, 66 years old, 103 – Punctual season.
But problems have occurred this season, and Miller took a leave in November. His quarrel with his teammate Elias Pettersson – whose origins are unknown – have become public and apparently insoluble. The cannucks had to continue. Miller, who had a complete non-movement clause, was in control.
By operating from a position of weakness, Vancouver made the move that will benefit Rangers.
“We have certainly done a lot of duties on this situation and on JT,” said Drury. “We have a story with him, which obviously wrote him and having been a ranger, so we felt comfortable doing the trick.
“Obviously, I am not in the locker room or part of their organization, but we would not have done the trick if we would not have comfortable as to what it will bring us on the ice. “”
Miller joins a team that includes one of his longest and best friends, Vincent Tocheck. They have been close since they grew up together as hockey players for young people in the Pittsburgh region. Drury said he spoke to Trocheck before concluding the agreement.
“As part of reasonable diligence, we talked to many people,” said Drury. “You know that Vincent and JT have a friendship, and I’m not going to get started in private discussions, but Troch was one of the places we have done with, that’s for sure.”
The Rangers plan to have $ 16.5 million in ceiling space on the deadline. We expect Drury to have not made any changes to the list. These movements can be of a short -term variety.
The GM movements will be dictated by results leading both to the deadline and at the two -week break of the 4 nations which begins on February 9. Five games – including Saturday – preceding the tournament in which Miller will join Tcheck, Adam Fox and Chris Kreider in Team USA.
“I am delighted to see JT enter our range to see what we can do before the break,” said Drury. “I always explore how we could be better.
“We will continue to do it in the break and the deadline.”
