K’Andre Miller impresses at WJC Summer Showcase

New York Rangers 2018 first round draft pick K’Andre Miller was a force for Team USA over the last two games of the WJC Summer Showcase.

The WJC Summer Showcase is an annual tournament that is a preview of the 2020 WJC Championships in the Czech Republic in December.  It was an opportunity for some New York Rangers draft picks to show their stuff and K’Andre Miller didn’t disappoint.

Miller was selected 22nd overall in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.  He is going to play his sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin under coach Tony Granato.  The Rangers traded up to get a shot at Miller and he looks to be improving after an outstanding first year in the NCAA.

Miller played in six games at the Summer Showcase, finishing with one goal and two assists and 13 shots on goal.  He played on the power play and the first blueline pairing. What’s encouraging is that his play improved as the tournament went on.

In Friday’s 6-5 loss to Finland, it seemed like Miller was on the ice the entire third period as Team USA furiously fought back from a 6-3 deficit. He assisted on a power play goal and an even strength goal that drew the team to within a goal.

In the tournament finale on Saturday, Team USA prevailed 5-3 over Canada and Miller scored he game tying goal in the second period.  The USA scored two third period goals to win.

Other prospects

The other player on team USA was 2019 draft pick Zac Jones.  Jones played in four games with three assists.  The defenseman showed an offensive upside with 12 shots on goal .  The 18-year old Jones was drafted in the third round (#68 overall) and has committed to play at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst this fall.

There were three other Ranger prospects in the tournament, all playing for Team Sweden.  2018 first round pick Nils Lundkvist played in only one game before sustaining an injury and missing the rest of the tournament.

2018 second round pick goalie Olof Lindbom got into one game, strafed for three goals in two periods in a 6-0 loss to the United States. Although he gave up three goals in 40 minutes, he played well considering the USA offense, though he did give up some juicy rebounds.  Lindbom will compete for a role on the Swedish WJC team while playing for Mora IK in the Swedish Allsvenskan league, one level below the Swedish Hockey League. .

2019 pick Karl Henriksson played in all five games for Sweden, but didn’t dent the scoresheet.  Henriksson is a center who was drafted in the second round (#58 overall).  He’s smaller at 5’9″, 174 pounds and was used as a bottom six forward in a checking role.  He is going to play for Frolunda in the Swedish junior SuperElit league.

The next time we will see any Rangers prospects in action will be at the Traverse City Tournament scheduled to begin in just over a month.  That tournament will feature prospects from eight teams including the Rangers in a round robin format from September 6-10.  The Rangers’ training camp opens days after that tournament concludes with the first pre-season game against the Devils at the Garden on September 18.