The Rangers named J.T. Miller the 29th captain in franchise history on Tuesday. New York sent a message by naming the fiery Miller as captain. The timing was also quite telling. Meanwhile, New York revealed their first sponsored uniform shoulder patch with a clear symbolic tie to a former captain. Finally, the Blueshirts released the training camp roster. Camp opens on Wednesday.
The Rangers originally selected in the first round of the 2025 Draft. New York reacquired him in January not only uplift the talent base but also change the culture. The desire for culture change drove Miller’s captaincy appointment by general manager Chris Drury. Miller brings a fiery attitude to the ice and dressing room. He’s not here to make friends. He’s here to win.
Miller always comes ready to compete. He needs to display significant growth in his approach to leading various personalities. Not every player is wired the same way. An effective captain knows how to galvanize the entire room.
Drury wants the team to emulate Miller’s playing style. However, some players are cut from a different cloth. Moreover, some players may not respond to his hard-driving personality. In cases like those, Miller will need to learn when to give others space. The only way get the most out of all of his teammates is to know what buttons to push. Miller and Elias Pettersson certainly did not see eye-to-eye in Vancouver, which is why the former was available in a trade.
The Rangers went without a captain after the Jacob Trouba trade. Drury put the speculation — and potential distraction — to rest this week. Miller is the captain and the tone-setter. Everyone else knows what’s expected. The general manager sent a message: No passengers welcome. Follow the captain’s lead.
Alternate captains
Forwards Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad, and defenseman Adam Fox, were selected as the team’s alternate captains. Trocheck, who is the one new member of the leadership team, at least officially, after serving in that role unofficially after Trouba was dealt, was also considered for the captaincy. As Vince Mercogliano noted, Despite Trocheck having more familiarity with the current roster as he enters the fourth year of a seven-year contract, Miller was ultimately Drury’s preference. Miller and Trocheck are close friends which may have made the decision easier to communicate. in addition, as seen below, Drury has learned from his poor communication practices of the past, making sure the leadership group was on board first with this decision.
Rangers add GAME 7 shoulder patch
The Rangers will introduce their first-ever jersey patch this season in partnership with GAME 7, the sports and entertainment brand co-founded by former Rangers captain, six-time Stanley Cup winner and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier. Both sides reached accord on a three-year agreement. The patch features the GAME 7 logo in blue with white lettering on the right shoulder of the Rangers’ home and away jerseys.
While not a big fan of ads, at least this patch blends into the jersey.and doesn’t look significant out of the place. The opposite shoulder features the team’s 100th anniversary patch.Irrespective of if the patch does blend in a bit, initially it will be jarring to see the patch on the shoulder, but eventually, we likely will all get used to it.
Rangers training camp roster
Wednesday, training camp opens. The rosters and schedule were revealed yesterday. Noah Laba, off his final rookie camp, received an invite. Jackson Dorrington, acquired from Vancouver in the Miller trade and paired with Scott Morrow in rookie camp, will be there as well. I am looking forward to seeing Callum Tung, as he could see time at Hartford this season.
With camp opening today, at 3:30 pm Chris Drury and Mike Sullivan will speak to the media. The team will hold its first on-ice session on Thursday, September 18 at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown with Internal practices taking place Thursday, Friday and Saturday (see below). The first of six preseason games is Sunday against the Devils (see below). Training Camp will run until Sunday, October 5.
Sept. 18:
9:00 AM – Team 1 Practice
10:00 AM – Team 1/2 Scrimmage
11:00 AM – Team 2 Practice
12:45 PM – Team 3 Practice
Sept. 19:
9:00 AM – Team 2 Practice
10:00 AM – Team 2/3 Scrimmage
11:00 AM – Team 3 Practice
12:45 PM – Team 1 Practice
Sept. 20:
9:00 AM – Team 3 Practice
10:00 AM – Team 1/3 Scrimmage
11:00 AM – Team 1 Practice
12:45 PM – Team 2 Practice
Preseason game schedule
– September 21 at NJD (1:00 PM ET)
– September 23 vs. BOS (7:00 PM ET)
– September 25 vs. NYI (7:00 PM ET)
– September 29 at NYI (7:00 PM ET)
– October 2 vs. NJD (7:00 PM ET)
– October 4 at BOS (2:00 PM ET).
New York opens the regular season Tuesday, October 7 at home against Pittsburgh.
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