Rangers Centers Under Fire But Improving | New York Rangers News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's July 31st. Welcome to New York Rangers News Today, AI-powered coverage of your squad. I'm Corey with the story.
A recent ranking of NHL Center pairings put Mika Zibanejad and JT. Miller of the New York Rangers in the sixth tier, labeled as below average.
This assessment, which considered top two center duels for the upcoming 2026 to 2027 season, placed them somewhere between 19th and 25th overall in the league. This ranking comes despite Zibanejad's bounce back year and Miller's longer track record of production. The evaluation also noted that the Utah Mammoth, after acquiring Vincent Trocek, landed in the fourth tier, considered above average. This highlights a perceived gap between the Rangers veteran centers and other teams' top pairings, even with the Rangers making moves to strengthen their forward group this offseason. While there are valid concerns about their five-on-five performance last season, with both players heading into their mid-thirties, labeling them as, below average might be too harsh. Zibanejan, for instance, led the Rangers in goals and points despite the team's struggles, showing chemistry with younger players late in the season. Miller, though his production dipped, faced injuries and played with less experienced wingers. Looking ahead, the Rangers have added significant talent around Zibanejad and Miller, including Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
This improved supporting cast should allow both centers to perform closer to their established capabilities, potentially erasing some of the 5-on-5 concerns that contributed to their low ranking. Considering their combined point total last season and the upgrades made, a spot in the 5th tier, or middle of the pack, seems more fitting. While not an elite duo, their proven ability and the new talent surrounding them suggests they offer more balance than many teams placed in the lower. TIGGYERS!