J.T. Miller

Miller was a mid-round steal for fantasy owners a year ago, as his 99 points (32 goals) in 80 games placed him ninth in the league in scoring. The Canucks missed the playoffs and stud running mate Elias Pettersson managed just 68 points in 80 games, but Miller more than filled the void. His immense scoring totals were buoyed by 38 power-play points which tied Miller with Victor Hedman and Jonathan Huberdeau for third in the NHL behind only Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Miller's 206 shots on goal were also by far a new high-water mark. Miller is a good player but expecting a repeat performance of a season ago is a recipe for potential disaster. Miller was in trade rumors both at the deadline last year and all offseason, but it appears as if he will open the season with the Canucks. Miller is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2023.

After an early-season absence due to virus protocols, Miller established himself as a top-six force for the Canucks. He racked up 46 points, 106 shots on goal and 90 hits in 53 contests, playing both as a winger early on and then as a center when Elias Pettersson (wrist) exited the lineup. While it might be a bit much to expect point-per-game production from Miller, the 28-year-old should be a near-lock for 60 points overall and roughly 20 on a talented Canucks power play. With strong scoring, positional versatility and more than a dash of grit, the Ohio native is likely to be a fantasy favorite in the middle rounds.

Miller had no trouble cementing himself as a top-six option in his first year with the Canucks, racking up a studly 27 goals and 45 assists in 69 contests. His 2019-20 performance marked the first time he's exceeded a point-per-game pace in his career. He saw his ice time climb to 20:06 per game and also recorded a career-high 25 power-play points. Miller provides the young Canucks with a veteran presence, and the Ohio native should continue to produce gaudy numbers on offense. Mix in his usual dose of physicality -- he had 123 hits last year -- and the 27-year-old makes for a high-end fantasy option. Look for Miller to play near a 70-point pace even if his shooting percentage dips from the 16.4 percent mark he had in 2019-20.

Miller arrives in Vancouver with a huge opportunity. He immediately climbs back into a top-six role after spending last season on the third line, and might even find himself on a line with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, two rising young stars. Miller skates well and has good hands, but he'll be counted on for far more in Van City. The 26-year-old will be a team leader through both words and actions, and might even wear an A. You can count on a return to the 50-plus point level for Miller in 2019-20.

Miller's production took a jump following his deadline trade to Tampa last February. He rode shotgun with none other than Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, and rang up 10 goals and 18 points in 19 games. Clearly, the Bolts system fit Miller like a glove. A breakout season is in order -- think 30 goals and 70 points if he plays with the big dogs. Get on board now. The Lightning inked him to a five-year, $26.25 million extension over the summer, so he'll be given a long leash.

Stretches of increased responsibility led to a 13-point improvement for Miller last season, as he set a new career best with 56 points despite failing to see increases in goals (steady at 22) or shots (down ever so slightly to 132 from 135) while playing all 82 games for the second straight campaign. At 24, he still has room to grow, especially if he can command increased power-play duties now that former No. 1 center Derek Stepan has been dispatched to Arizona in an offseason trade. Miller has already established a reputation for timely goals, as a full quarter of his tallies from the past two seasons (11 of 44) have been of the game-winning variety, and he netted three shorthanded markers last year despite only seeing a modest 1:15 of ice time per game in those situations. Whether he plays center or wing or both, Miller is guaranteed to see plenty of opportunities in the Rangers’ top-six mix this season, which should provide value to his fantasy owners in just about any format. he'll also be playing for his next contract, adding extra motivation.

For parts of last season – especially while Rick Nash was on IR – Miller was the Rangers’ best player, but he flagged down the stretch and was largely invisible during the team’s first-round playoff loss to the Penguins. That said, he still improved dramatically on his 2014-15 campaign, setting new personal marks with 22 goals, 21 assists and a plus-10 rating, and there’s reason to believe Miller’s development will continue in his age-23 campaign. The No. 15 overall pick in 2011 operated at nearly a point-per-game pace over his last 59 AHL contests, and he clearly has the size, the skill and the intangibles to develop into an above-average NHL player. Miller will, however, have competition for a top-six role, as the Rangers are deep at all the forward positions; that uncertainty is the biggest limitation on his fantasy value as the season approaches.

He may not be the flashiest player out there, but Miller's lunch-pail mentality has endeared him to the Rangers and landed him in a top-six role during last year's playoff run. However, despite a strong track record of scoring in the minors, the 2011 first-round pick may not be ready to stick on the top two lines this year, considering the Rangers' depth. He'll need to find a way to replicate his minor-leauge scoring, as he picked up 21 goals and 58 points in 58 games for AHL Hartford over the last two seasons, but has only 29 points in 88 NHL games during the same span. He's on a two-way contract this year, so Miller's going to have to earn his place in the Rangers' somewhat crowded forward ranks.

If any Rangers forward could fill the void left by summer departures Brad Richards and Benoit Pouliot, it’s the team’s first-round pick from 2011. Ever since Miller’s two-goal performance in his second NHL game two seasons ago, the hype machine for the 21-year-old has been on overdrive. Since that time, Miller has traveled a familiar path back and forth between New York and AHL Hartford. Although Miller has managed just three goals in 58 NHL games since the aforementioned two-goal debut, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound forward has showed great maturation over time, responding to criticism from head coach Alain Vigneault by logging 43 points in 41 games with Harford last season. The window for dynasty owners has well passed, but annual re-drafters in deep formats should consider Miller as a possible late-round sleeper choice.

After crashing the scene with a two-goal effort in just his second NHL game against the rival Islanders, Miller spent most of the season battling a nagging wrist injury. Once he was healthy enough to get back in the Rangers' lineup, Miller was held quiet, totaling just two goals and two assists in 26 games last season. Nonetheless, it's noteworthy the 20-year-old Miller managed eight goals, 15 assists and 29 penalty minutes in 42 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack last season. His willingness to get involved in scrappy play leaves a good taste within the organizational brass, so the question begs, can new head coach Alain Vigneault's style of play make him not only the wild card in a core of Rangers' forwards who didn't hit their offensive upside, but possibly a sleeper in waiting at an FA pool near you? We think so -- and so should fantasy owners in most formats.

The 19-year-old winger spent most of last season with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL before a brief stint with the AHL's Connecticut Whale; he definitely possesses offensive upside. In the OHL, Miller posted 62 points in 61 games before being added to the Rangers' playoff roster. While he'll likely spend most of the season in the AHL, Miller's worth a look if he opens the year with the Blueshirts. Remember his name in keeper leagues.