"I have told [Miller] that we're going to start him at the center position," Vigneault told reporters Thursday, the day his team reported for medical testing. "This is a good chance for us to get him some work in the middle. At some point, whether it be early on in the season, he's probably going to play a little bit of center. It happened last year, it happened the year before, so giving him that experience right off the bat is a good thing."
Vigneault has preferred Miller at wing, but said the team's depth as center right now is "on the respectable line," and that it's his job to look at all options. The coach added that Miller is no longer considered a "young player anymore," but rather one who possesses experience.
"I've got to go out and see right here early on at training camp, a guy like J.T. who has played that position before, how he looks, how he feels," Vigneault said. "He's not a young player anymore. He's a veteran player. I want to see that experience and I want to see what he can do at that position."
Vigneault does have other options at center as well, including rookie Lias Andersson, whom Vigneault was impressed by in June's development camp.
The fact that Andersson is just 18 years old? That doesn't matter in the eyes of the coach.
"Everything I saw in development camp … there's definitely a lot of upside there," Vigneault said of Andersson. "I've mentioned this many times before: for me, talent has no age. If the young man comes in and we think he can contribute to the success of our team, he's going to be here."
The addition of free agent David Desharnais gives Vigneault even more experience down the middle. The 31-year-old is entering his ninth season in the NHL, and gives Vigneault and the Rangers a pivot who can play in different roles.
