Ten games into the 2021 season and that means we are done with 20% of the schedule. It’ still too early to figure out the identity of the New York Rangers. It’s not too early to define the five biggest surprises so far this season.
Surprise #1 -K’Andre Miller
K’Andre Miller came into training camp with some hype, but nothing like the hype that surrounded Alexis Lafrenière this season and Kaapo Kakko last season. The Rangers’ brain trust had dropped heavy hints about how impressive Miller was in his stay with the team during the warmup for the Stanley Cup Qualifier, but even they must be surprised by how well he has done.
He just turned 21 and has all of ten NHL games under his belt, but he is playing heavy minutes against the top opposition players. In his last game it was Miller and his partner, Jacob Trouba who were on the ice when the Backstrom-Ovechkin-Wilson line was sent out. His poise under pressure has been fabulous and his ability to establish a rush is getting better every game.
Miller’s plus/minus of +7 not only is the best on the Rangers, but it is eighth best among NHL defensemen and leads all rookie blueliners. But plus/minus doesn’t tell the story. Get a load of these stats:
- Miller leads the team in 5v5 time on ice. He has played 167:37 minutes, more than any other player.
- Miller drives offense. When he is on the ice 5v5, the Rangers have more scoring chances than they give up. His SCF% is 52.41, the bet of any defenseman and he is the only defenseman on the team better than 50%.
- His four points (one goal, three assists) is second only to Adam Fox on defense. At even strength he has even outscored Fox. This despite the fact that Miller and Trouba are likely to be playing against the top opposition line.
Miller’s has been unexpected, but it is his defense that is dazzling. According to Mitch Brown of Elite Prospects.com “Miller was the best rush defender I tracked in the NCAA last year, breaking up 46 percent of controlled entry attempts against with translatable form. No surprises, his rush defense remains a strength in the NHL. His footwork’s so refined, maintaining backwards momentum and never crossing over until the attacker’s committed. That footwork combines with reach and aggressiveness to close space as early as possible. Then, he takes control of the attack, forcing them to the perimeter before killing the play along the boards.”
He has shown a rare ability to recover even when has been beat, showing that skill against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. His long reach has been special and his reaction time is fantastic.
K'Andre Miller out there saving games pic.twitter.com/27JbgKUxAl
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) February 2, 2021
Miller had one shaky game so far this season, his NHL debut and was demoted to the third pair in his second game. David Quinn came to his senses and restored Miller to Trouba’s left side and they have become a true shutdown defense pairing. The next step is for Miller to get some power play time. He’s had less than two minutes with the man advantage, compared to over 46 minutes for Adam Fox and over 19 minutes for Trouba. When that happens, look out.