J.T. Miller was named captain of the New York Rangers, signaling a leadership core as training camp opens. Miller’s late-season surge after returning in January established him as a top scorer and trusted voice on and off the ice, anchoring a new era under coach Mike Sullivan.

New York reshapes behind the scenes as Miller is reacquired from Vancouver, Gavrikov adds blue-line stability, and Trouba is moved to Anaheim. Laviolette is out, Drury stays, and the opener on Oct. 7 pits the Rangers against Sullivan’s old club, the Pittsburgh Penguins, marking a pivotal season for a club chasing a return to the postseason.

Eddie Giacomin, Hockey Hall of Fame goalie and longtime Ranger, died at 86. A stickhandling pioneer, he backstopped the Rangers to four straight semifinals and the 1972 Cup Final, posting 290 wins and 54 shutouts in 610 games. He shared the 1970-71 Vezina with Villemure and had his No. 1 retired by New York in 1989. After a stint with Detroit, his legacy as a franchise cornerstone endures among Rangers fans and NHL history.