New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller has been named the recipient of the fifth annual Rod Gilbert "Mr. Ranger" Award, given to the Rangers player "who best honors Rod's legacy by exemplifying leadership qualities both on and off the ice, and making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community."
Named the 29th captain of the New York Rangers prior to the start of the season, Miller has proven a genuine commitment to making a positive impact in the community. In January, Miller and his wife, Natalie, donated $154,000 to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the largest donation to Garden of Dreams made by a player in franchise history. With this donation, Garden of Dreams purchased 10 suites to invite youth from varying partner organizations, such as NYPD Widows and Children’s Fund, SCAN-Harbor, Ronald McDonald House New York, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and more, to attend New York Rangers games and to meet the Millers following the game. At the start of the season, Miller represented the Rangers at the BGC Charity Day, honoring those lost in the September 11 attacks by participating in celebrity guest calls on the trading floor, meeting fans and helping raise funds for the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Throughout the season, he has consistently been present at team community initiatives, including post-game fan meet-and-greets.
The East Palestine, Ohio native was named to the 2026 United States Men’s Hockey Team earlier this year and returned from Milan, Italy as an Olympic gold medalist. This season with the Rangers, he has registered 16 goals and 31 assists for 47 points in 61 games. He ranks third on New York in faceoff wins (489), fourth in hits (118) and fifth in points, and skated in his 900th career NHL game on Dec. 7. His 61.5 faceoff win percentage this season ranks third among all NHL skaters who have taken at least 500 faceoffs, and his 54.1 faceoff percentage is tied for seventh among all Rangers skaters who have taken 1,000 or more faceoffs in franchise history.
