Why The J.T. Miller Deal Will Be A Game Changer For Rangers

The J.T. Miller trade is awfully similar to another moment in Rangers history.

The latter-day Messier has arrived in New York only his name is J.T. Miller.

That's right. The Mighty Miller will do for the Blueshirts what The Marvelous Messier did for New York Hockey in 1993-94.

He will galvanize that dressing room like you wouldn't believe.

Here's the why and how of it:

1. WAKE UP: Miller will show his new mates that it's a good idea to start a game on time; like with the first drop of the puck. Also, it never hurts to score the first goal.

2. SHAKE UP: The sleeping dogs will awaken. If he has to, Miller will grab Breadman Panarin, Lafrenière, Dozing Fox and the rest of the malingerers by their necks with the secret word: PLAY!

3. THE MIRACLE: Mika – The Major Malingerer – Zibanejad will discover that the voice he's hearing isn't Peter Laviolette's drone of bagpipes. It's The Man; It's Miller Time. The "Old" Mika – which we loved so much – will return to score and score. Miller will make it happen.

Had enough?

Chris Drury won the deal because the team that gets the best player wins the deal; that's just how it goes in hockey. Nothing complicated.

Nobody wanted to see the beloved Fiery Fil Chytil go, but he's a skating, doomsday cliche. (How many times have we said that his next hit could be his last?)

Victor Mancini may be a decent blue liner but the Rangers rushed him up 'way, 'way too soon. It was a case of front office mishandling from the beginning to today.

The Maven has no doubt that Miller will push this multi-talented club into the playoffs. From there – as proven in 1994 – anything can happen and CAN happen if Drury pulls off another deal like this one.

This afternoon in Boston marks the start of a new Rangers season. Kudos to Drury for making it happen!

Bravo to J.T. Miller as The New Messier!