J.T. Miller on Rangers’ struggles: ‘It’s not really cute anymore’
J.T. Miller didn’t hold back following the New York Rangers’ 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Miller said the Rangers, who are now 6-6-2 through their first 14 games of the 2025-26 regular season, need to play better, and that it starts with him.
“I need to be better. I need to lead better for these guys,” Miller said. “It’s just not acceptable at home to not get the job done at the end day, whether you play well or not.”
"I need to be better. I need to lead better for these guys. It's just not acceptable at home to not get the job done at the end day, whether you play well or not."
– J.T. Miller pic.twitter.com/KRZVPakjrD
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 5, 2025
When asked how the Rangers not let this take on a life of its own, the New York captain said it “starts with myself and the leadership group.”
“This is where we need to dig deep and carry the load a little and raise our own expectations for ourself,” Miller said, according to New York Post reporter Mollie Walker. “Not just, ‘We like what we’re doing, and we’re getting looks.’ It’s not really cute anymore, it’s been 14 games.
“We’re not executing by capitalizing on our chances,” he added. “They’re big moments of the game. We’re not making teams cheat the game right now, especially at home. They have a lead all the time they’re going to play the right way … It starts with me. I need to be better. I need to do something to help drag the team in for a couple extra percent here.”
How do #NYR not let this take on a life of its own?
"It just starts with myself and the leadership group," captain J.T. Miller said. "This is where we need to dig deep and carry the load a little and raise our own expectations for ourself. Not just, 'We like what we're doing,…
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) November 5, 2025
Through 14 games this season, Miller has three goals and five assists for eight points.
The forward joined the Rangers after a trade from the Vancouver Canucks last season, proceeding to score 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in 32 games with the blueshirts. Finishing the season with 70 points, Miller is hoping to get back to the production he found during his time with the Canucks, when he finished with 99, 82 and 103 points between 2021-22 and 2023-24, respectively.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Rangers general manager Chris Drury named Miller the 29th captain in franchise history.
Now in his 14th NHL season, the East Palestine, Ohio, native has 263 goals and 454 assists for 717 points in 885 career games with the Rangers, Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning.
He’s also appeared in 91 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording 12 goals and 44 assists for 56 points.