K'Andre Miller is having a rough month, and Carson Soucy might be the most underrated of the Rangers defensemen right now. As the Rangers continue to fight their current battle in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers might benefit from swapping the positioning of these two in the lineup ahead of a critical final seven games. New York has to keep winning, and it seems like a logical fix to swap their top two left-shot defensemen.
Carson Soucy is currently playing well next to Adam Fox. This pairing has worked well since being put together, and the veteran next to the former Norris Winner has had tremendous analytical experience. However, the style of the game Soucy plays might be too solid and not aggressive enough for a top pairing. This makes him a great candidate to slot in next to Will Borgen on the second pairing, which would free up Fox.
K'Andre Miller is more of the opposite. He's a prominent figure that wants to carry the puck and flex his offensive muscle. Putting Miller next to Adam Fox worked well early in the season, and the Blueshirts can use that pairing to build for the future. Putting two young, solid defensemen together on the top pairing so they can continue to grow together is a logical solution, especially when one is on a pairing that isn't working now.
Having a top pairing of Miller and Fox supported by Soucy and Borgen is a significant step forward for New York. They need to continue improving if this organization wants to secure a playoff spot, but this would be a great way to strengthen the team. Peter Laviolette needs to address the defensive issues on the roster, even when the team is winning, and changing combinations works for coaches.