After trading up, the New York Rangers selected defenseman K’Andre Miller from the University of Wisconsin 22nd overall in the 2018 NHL draft. How does he stack up against other NCAA blueliners who have been taken in the first round?
With concern looming that the Anaheim Ducks were going to take Miller with the number 23 pick, New York packaged their #26 and #48 picks to move up to 22 and make sure they got their man.
While player development is not exactly a linear path, it does help to use past players as a model to work with. Players from college are at a different level of development than those who come from junior hockey.
The NCAA now produces a comparable level of talent to the junior hockey path and the Ranger organization is a testament to that. Think of all the NCAA products on the team right now: Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Vesey, Brady Skjei, Neal Pionk, Brendan Smith, Vinni Lettieri and Kevin Shattenkirk all came the college route.
As for Miller, the 6’4” American is a strong skater that plays an offensive minded game and has one goal, one assist and is a plus-four in his first two games at Wisconsin. It’s too early to determine how his NHL career will look, but it’s not too early to compare his draft position with past NCAA athletes, and when we might be able to expect him in Broadway blue.
Here's a look at Miller's first collegiate goal! pic.twitter.com/5Hhk094LNy
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 13, 2018
Charlie McAvoy
The Boston University graduate was selected by the Boston Bruins with the 14th overall pick in the 2016 draft. McAvoy is the most recent American defensemen to go in the first round that has played in at least one NHL game. In 68 games played, he’s tallied a respectable line of 8-29-37 with a plus-23. Miller was projected to go as early as 16th overall, so it’s easy to see why these two could be compared.
Even with a stacked defensive core, McAvoy is a top-4 regular, sharing time with the likes of Zdeno Chara and Kevan Miller. During his sophomore season at BU, McAvoy joined the United States World Junior team to help bring home the gold, then promptly returned to school to help clinch a berth in the NCAA tournament. The 20-year old proves to be the backend building block for Boston for years to come.
Noah Hanifin
The next defenseman picked in the first round to hit the NCAA market post-draft was Boston native Noah Hanifin. This is a bit of stretch though because he was taken 5th overall in the 2015 draft. The defenseman is obviously a higher end version because of where he was picked in the draft.
In 244 games played, Hanafin has an impressive 18-66-84 line and was a top defenseman for a depleted Carolina team before being moved to the Calgary Flames. If Miller makes any strides to have a ceiling as high as Hanifin’s the pick would turn out to be an absolute steal.
Zach Werenski
Another defenseman that was picked higher than 22nd, Werenski went 9th overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Michigan native played two years at the University of Michigan where he tallied 66 points in 71 games.
Like Miller, Werenski was credited for his strong skating and ability to create shooting lanes.
Unlike Miller, the biggest question mark facing Werenski headed into the NHL draft was his offensive production. He silenced the critics with 25 points in 35 games, increasing his draft stock to #9.
Werenski’s skating ability draws an uncanny comparison to Miller, even before the offensive production. With Miller, a former forward, already acclimated with finding the back of the net, he could prove to be a more important piece despite being picked 13 spots higher.
Brady Skjei
Rangers very own Brady Skjei draws a lot of similarities to Miller as well. As an offensive-defenseman, Skjei has 66 points in 174 games played, as well as four goals and three assists in 17 playoff games.
Craig Button of TSN made the comparison to the Rangers 2012 first round draft pick after the 2018 draft.
"[He’s an] elite, elite skater, outstanding athlete. Like Brady Skjei, he has the ability to move the puck up the ice quickly. Call him a puck transporter. When you can quickly get the puck out of your zone and up the ice, that is a good way to play defense and get on the offensive attack.”"
Considering Skjei still has yet to reach his full potential, the comparison is very inviting, and one that should ignite excitement among Rangers fans going through the rebuild.
When can we expect to see him under the bright lights of MSG?
I wouldn’t hold my breath. Considering he’s played two games at the collegiate level there is a bit of a way to go, but with the rebuild in full swing, it looks like he could arrive at the perfect time. Ben Kerr of Las Word on Hockey projects Miller to be on Broadway in 2-3 years.
"Expect for him to spend at least two years at the NCAA level, and perhaps a year in the AHL after that."
If the rebuild goes according to plan, 2-3 years might just be when the Rangers are fully competitive again. It takes time to build a Stanley Cup Contender, but even in the early stages, watching these kids develop into full-time NHLers is going to be fun.