New York Rangers fans experienced a collective sigh of relief as reports indicate that captain J.T. Miller appears to have avoided a serious injury. The incident occurred during practice on Monday, September 29, 2025, raising concerns about the team's readiness for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
During a competitive drill at the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh, New York, Miller lunged to keep a loose puck in play. In doing so, he appeared to suffer a non-contact lower-body injury. Video footage shows Miller remaining on all fours immediately after the play. He then gingerly skated towards the bench, favoring his left leg, before heading to the locker room.
The Rangers' coach, Mike Sullivan, was not present at the practice when the incident occurred. He was with another group of players at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, preparing for a preseason game against the New York Islanders. Miller was not scheduled to participate in that game. "I just found out it myself when I got off the ice," Sullivan said. "All I can tell you is that he's being evaluated right now."
The team did not immediately provide an update on Miller's condition, and he was unavailable to the media after practice. He remained with the team's trainers for evaluation.
Miller's importance to the Rangers cannot be overstated. The team named him the 29th captain in franchise history on September 16, 2025, replacing Jacob Trouba. After being traded to the Rangers on January 31, he quickly became a key player, scoring 13 goals and 22 assists in 32 games. His leadership and on-ice performance made him the clear choice for captain.
The Rangers acquired Miller in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks. Last season, he missed ten games due to a leave of absence for personal reasons amidst an alleged feud with Elias Pettersson. Before that, Miller had been remarkably durable, missing no more than two games in each of the previous three seasons.
The Rangers are scheduled to begin their season on October 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden.
This injury scare comes as another blow to the Rangers, as forward Artemi Panarin also missed time during training camp with a lower-body injury. Panarin has returned to practice and may play in a preseason game on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.
