The New York Rangers have re-signed restricted free agent forward J.T. Miller, the team announced Wednesday. Terms of the two-year pact were not disclosed, but Tim Wharnsby reports that it carries a $2.625 million cap hit.
Miller will be paid $2.5 million this coming season and $2.75 the season after.
The 23-year-old played 82 games for the Blueshirts last year. It was the first time that the 2011 1st round draft pick (15th overall) played more than 58 games in a season, and he didn’t disappoint. He set career-high marks with 22 goals, 21 assists, 43 points and 46 penalty minutes.
In a summer where teams have largely given out long-term deals to rising stars, paying them more in their youth to avoid giving up a bigger cap hit later, Miller’s bridge deal doesn’t come as a surprise. He was expected to become this player, but he’s only done it once at age 23. Getting a prove it deal allows him to push the price of his next contract up. He’ll still be a restricted free agent when this new contract expires.
