The Rangers got out in front on their salary arbitration case with J.T. Miller, signing the emerging 23-year-old power winger to a two-year deal worth $2.75 million per year that serves the interests of both parties.
Miller, who will represent the young guns on Team North America in the upcoming World Cup, recorded personal bests of 22 goals, 21 assists and 43 points in 15:02 per game while bouncing from line to line under Alain Vigneault.
The deal will conclude with Miller one season shy of unrestricted free agency.
This will be the season for the coach to declare the 15th-overall selection of the 2009 entry draft as a no-doubt top-six winger entering the season. Miller, who plays with a physical edge and earned a spot on the Blueshirts’ second power-play unit, opened as part of 19 different line combinations a year ago, including 34 games with Derick Brassard and 17 with Derek Stepan.
Miller probably was most effective on the left with Brassard and Mats Zuccarello, but defensive issues — many the cause of dereliction by Brassard and Zuccarello — undermined the trio. Miller played four games with Brassard and one with Eric Staal in the five-game first-round playoff loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Penguins during which he had three assists.
The Blueshirts have approximately $9.95 million of cap space remaining with which to sign restricted free agents Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes and Dylan McIlrath and add two forwards to start the season while Oscar Lindberg opens the year on long-term injury while rehabbing from postseason hip surgery. This assumes a roster that includes Pavel Buchnevich.
McIlrath (July 21), Kreider (July 22) and Hayes (July 27) have filed for salary arbitration.