K'Andre Miller and the Infinite Sadness Surrounding the New York Rangers
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Defenseman K'Andre Miller has joined the Carolina Hurricanes, as the team performed a sign and trade deal that sent him to a divisional rival. Upon his exit, the defenseman admitted there was a lot of noise in the back of his mind about what could happen after last season. Lo and behold, he becomes another piece in GM Chris Drury's retool.
The New York Rangers and K'Andre Miller seemed destined for a split after this season. He'd perform below expectations, and his self-confidence would take an obvious blow, as the team that was once the Presidents' Trophy winners failed to make it to the playoffs.
The dismal finish would trigger GM Chris Drury to start a retool, which we could debate truly started once Captain Jacob Trouba was traded.
Miller, like other former Rangers, had a slew of NHL teams interested in acquiring his services. Out of the 12-15, the Hurricanes won the sweepstakes.
They'd send Scott Morrow, and a 1st and 2nd round pick in return for the top-pairing defenseman.
The noise surrounding a potential move stuck with Miller, and he'd admit it would take hold of his thoughts.
«I think there was a lot of noise throughout the season,» Miller said. «It was definitely in the back of my head that something could happen, might happen. I loved my time in New York and it was great. I'm excited for what's to come in Carolina.»
Though arguably until the end of the season, we didn't think we'd see the Rangers part ways with a defenseman, like Miller, who still has plenty of upside to offer at this time in his career.
The former 2018 1st-round draft pick was brought in to be a staple in the Rangers' defense, and would make his debut during the 2020-21 season and work his way up the lineup, and post a career-high 43 points 2 years later.
Fast forward 2 years, and he'd be a liability on the defense, coughing up pucks, and was unable to provide high-level coverage in his own zone. Ultimately, this gave Chris Drury hesitation when it came to giving him a long-term extension.
Miller would end up being shopped, and would remain unengaged as he'd want to stay hands-off when it came to the trade that eventually manifested. For the longest time, he didn't even know he was on the trade block.
«I didn't know too much about it,» Miller said about being shopped by the Rangers during the offseason. «I honestly shut my phone off and my socials the last couple weeks, just with all the speculation and the noise... It was good to just kind of decompress and just worry about my summer, getting stronger and getting my mind right.»
Now, he joins a contending team in the Metropolitan Division, with an 8-year, $60 million contract, securing his future in the Eastern Conference.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 2 | 747 ANSWERS K'Andre Miller and the Infinite Sadness Surrounding the New York Rangers Do you think the New York Rangers got good value out of the trade for defenseman K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes? | ||
| Yes | 631 | 84.5 % |
| No | 116 | 15.5 % |
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