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New York Rangers: 5 players to pay attention to this season

By Michael DeRosa

May 5, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers celebrates his shorthanded goal against the Washington Capitals at 1:15 of the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers celebrates his shorthanded goal against the Washington Capitals at 1:15 of the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 22: K’Andre Miller #79 of the New York Rangers takes the puck in the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2021 in New York City.The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New York Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 22: K’Andre Miller #79 of the New York Rangers takes the puck in the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2021 in New York City.The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New York Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

D K’Andre Miller

K’Andre Miller may not have won the Norris Trophy this past season like Adam Fox, but he played very well for a rookie. In 53 games, he scored five goals and recorded 12 points. Yet, what was more impressive about him was that he had the poise and calmness of a veteran defenseman. He also made the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. The 2018 first-round pick left a very good first impression and fans should be excited to see what is next to come.

He may only be 21 years old, but he has cemented himself as a legitimate top-four defenseman already. At 6’5″, he is certainly an imposing figure on the backend. He also played the role very well, as he recorded 93 hits as a rookie. It will be intriguing to see if he begins to throw the body even more frequently as he becomes more comfortable in the league. With the Rangers looking to build a tougher identity, it certainly would be appreciated.

Yet, more importantly, one has to wonder how much his offensive game will go up this season. He comes with a lot of overall skill and had a scoring touch during his days with the University of Wisconsin. As a freshmen during the 2018-19 season, he had 22 points in 26 points. He then followed that up with an 18-point campaign in 36 games. There was a dip in production, but even so, it is clear that he has the potential to do more upfront. In fact, it would not be surprising to see it come into fruition this upcoming season.

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