Rangers Hit Olympic Break Reeling as J.T. Miller Voices Frustration After Latest Loss
The New York Rangers limped into the Olympic break Thursday night, shut out 2-0 by the Carolina Hurricanes in a game that felt more like a confirmation than a surprise. The loss marked the Rangers' fourth straight defeat and their seventh in the last eight games, dragging them to a 22-29-6 record and dead last in the Eastern Conference standings.
And with Artemi Panarin - the team’s former leading scorer - traded just 24 hours earlier, the mood around the locker room was about as bleak as the scoreline suggested.
Forward J.T. Miller didn’t sugarcoat it.
“From the drop of the puck,” Miller said when asked where things went wrong. “We got outplayed the whole night.
They were just more determined, skated faster, and executed. They don’t play a fancy game at all.
They play direct, right on top of us. Hard game to play against, and we were surprised by that.
So, wasn’t good enough.”
That’s not just frustration talking - that’s a veteran recognizing a team that looked unprepared, outmatched, and out of sync from the opening faceoff.
The Hurricanes dictated the pace all night, outshooting New York 43-16 and leaving little doubt about who owned the ice. Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov struck early in the first period, and despite a stellar 41-save effort from Jonathan Quick - easily one of his best outings of the year - the Rangers couldn’t muster a single goal in response.
For a team that had shown flashes of promise earlier in the season, it’s been a steep and sudden fall. Since their 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers in the Winter Classic on January 2, the Rangers have gone 2-11-1. Their .446 points percentage now ranks third-worst in the NHL.
And now, they hit the pause button - not with momentum, but with more questions than answers.
“We want to go into the break feeling good about ourselves, and it’s quite the opposite right now,” Miller said. “So, sucks.”
Asked what the message to his teammates would be heading into the three-week Olympic break, Miller didn’t pretend to have a rallying cry.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “We gotta come back with a better mindset.
Hasn’t been good enough the last little while. So try to regroup, freshen up...
I literally don’t know. Come back with a better mindset, I guess.”
It’s rare to hear that kind of candor, especially from a player like Miller - a guy known for his edge, his compete level, and his leadership. But after the stretch the Rangers have been through, it’s hard to blame him for being at a loss.
There is, however, a silver lining for Miller on the horizon. When the NHL hits pause for the Olympics, he’ll shift gears and join Team USA for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan. It’ll be his first Olympic appearance, though he’s no stranger to international play - he won gold at the 2013 World Juniors and suited up for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Team USA opens group play against Latvia on February 12. For Miller, it’s a chance to reset and compete on a global stage, even as his NHL club searches for answers.
Trade Rumors Swirl Around Miller
While Miller focuses on representing his country, his name continues to surface in trade chatter - particularly with the Minnesota Wild.
According to recent reports, Miller is a player who checks a lot of boxes for Wild GM Bill Guerin. Tough, physical, productive, and strong in the faceoff circle, Miller is the kind of player Guerin typically gravitates toward. His 2023-24 campaign - where he posted a career-high 37 goals and 103 points - only strengthens that case.
But this potential fit comes with layers.
One key wrinkle is Miller’s past in Vancouver, especially the rumored tension with former teammate Elias Pettersson. With Quinn Hughes - another ex-Canuck and a key figure in that locker room - now in Minnesota following his own blockbuster trade, there’s a belief he could provide Guerin with insight into what really went on behind closed doors.
If the Wild are serious about pursuing Miller, that kind of intel could be crucial. Chemistry matters, especially when you’re considering adding a high-salary veteran to a young, evolving core.
And that brings us to the other complicating factor: the contract.
Miller turns 33 this year and still has four seasons left on his deal, carrying an $8 million cap hit each year. That’s a significant commitment for any team - especially one trying to maintain flexibility for future moves. Minnesota has been linked to big names like Jack and Luke Hughes or Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk in long-range speculation, and taking on Miller’s deal could limit their ability to make a splash down the road.
Still, the appeal is clear. On the ice, Miller brings grit, skill, and leadership - all traits that could help push a team like Minnesota over the hump. Whether the Wild are ready to make that kind of bet remains to be seen.
For now, Miller’s focus is on Milan. But once the Olympic flame is extinguished, don’t be surprised if his NHL future quickly becomes one of the league’s most intriguing storylines.