Miller (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images)

Miller (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images)

When the season started, many anticipated that J.T. Miller would be third in the pecking order behind Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes. Certainly a solid player, but by no means someone that the Rangers should be counting on daily. He needed to take the next step, but was really looking at a third line role. Forty-two games into the season, and Miller is very clearly having the best season of that trio.

For starters, he leads all three in goal (8), assists (12), and points (20). He’s also the overall team leader in CF% at 50.06%, the only Rangers forward above 50% for the season. But it goes beyond the raw numbers, he’s playing a better all around game, not just with the puck. He’s better in his own end, making smarter passes, is more engaged, and making smarter plays getting to the net and getting the puck to the net.

Here’s how his usage compares to the rest of the team:

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Miller is making the most of his usage and strong quality of teammates, certainly doing more with his time than Hayes. By comparison’s sake, Kreider gets fewer offensive zone starts –likely due to him playing on the second like with Derek Stepan– but doesn’t drive possession in the manner Miller has thus far.

It wasn’t always like this, though. Miller, like the rest of the team, had a very slow start to the season. But he has really picked it up of late. His possession play has really taken off:

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

He went from a 40% CF player to playing close to 60%. All this has averaged out to a 50.06% CF. In that span since November, where his uptick started, Miller has put up 7-7-14 (6-6-12 at even strength). I don’t know if that’s the most on the club since November, he’s probably still behind Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, and Keith Yandle, but he’s up there with that crowd.

The Rangers really needed the kids to take the next step offensively, as the club needed to part ways with Carl Hagelin (trade) and Martin St. Louis (retirement) in the offseason. That’s a decent amount of production that needs to be replaced. Miller has certainly pulled his weight of late, and if not for his rough start, could be in the discussion for biggest surprise of the year.

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