New York Rangers and J.T. Miller Avoid Arbitration and Agree on Two Year Deal

The New York Rangers and forward J.T. Miller avoided arbitration on Wednesday as they reached an agreement on a two-year, 5.25 million-dollar deal. 

Miller, 23, reached career highs in games player (82), goals (22), assists (21), game-winning goals (5) and points (43) this past season. He was also a plus-10 in 2015-2016. 

In the Rangers five Stanley Cup Playoff games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he added three assists. The three assists during the postseason, came in the second period of game two. He became the first Ranger to accomplish the feat, since Jaromir Jagr did it for them back in 2007 against the Atlanta Flames in game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. 

The Rangers drafted Miller in the first round, 15^th overall, of the 2011 National Hockey League draft. Through 196 regular season games, he has put up 37 goals and 39 assists, with 97 penalty minutes. He adds a goal and 12 assists in 28 postseason games. 

Miller was one of two Rangers to skate in all 82 games for the Blueshirts this past season. He led the team in even strength goals (20), was tied for lead in game winning goals and was in second place in even strength points (39).

The six foot one, 201-pound forward led the Blueshirts in points on the road (28) while being ranked second with 14 road goals. He was ranked fourth among NHL players 23 years or younger in points and sixth in goals on the road last season.

In the eight games between January 16 to February 4, Miller, became the first Ranger 22 years of age or young to score eight in eight games, since Alexei Kovalev did it during the 1993-1994 season.

The East Palestine, Ohio native represented the United States through several tournaments. He has put up two goals and seven assists, with a plus-5 rating in seven games while helping the Red, White and Blue capture the gold at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.  

During the 2011 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, he scored four goals and eight assists in six games, helping Team USA strike gold. Miller will represent Team North America during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, Ontario from September 17 to October 1.