Rangers trade K'Andre Miller to Carolina Hurricanes for a haul of futures

The New York Rangers traded K'Andre Miller at the start of free agency, a player they drafted in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. They received a return from the Carolina Hurricanes which helps address future needs.
New York Rangers v Chicago Blackhawks
New York Rangers v Chicago Blackhawks | Michael Reaves/GettyImages

Today the New York Rangers officially closed the loop on a trade rumor that has surrounded the team for the past several months. K'Andre Miller is officially a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Rangers got quite a haul for him.

Miller has signed quite a contract with Carolina, and something the Rangers were unlikely to give to him. That they are getting a decent defense prospect in Scott Morrow, and two conditional draft picks is a quality return for Chris Drury, Morrow is 22 and stands 6'2" and weighs 194 pounds. He spent three seasons at UMass in the NCAA, and this past season appeared in 52 games with the Chicago Wolves. In that span he scored 13 goals and added 26 assists for 39 points. He is a right handed defenseman, and one wonders what his arrival could mean for Braden Schneider going forward.

The Rangers made this trade because Miller was a restricted free agent two years way from becoming an unrestricted free agent. It is likely that he and his representation would have wanted a one-year deal, if he were to sign with the Rangers, and would have entered this situation next year with even more leverage considering his proximity to unrestricted free agency.

He's been a defenseman that has shown a ton of promise at times, but ultimately his inconsistency as a player explains why the Rangers don't even want to try and run it back with him under a new head coach in Mike Sullivan.

The Hurricanes should be familiar with Miller, and are an analytical inclined organization that has had success with former Rangers before. Brady Skeji played quite well for Carolina and was able to use that as a springboard to sign a lucrative contract with the Nashville Predators. In terms of statistics, the former Wisconsin Badger appeared in 368 games with the Blueshirts and in that span had posted a line of 36-96-132.

During the 2024-25 season Miller appeared in 74 games and had 27 points, and it was a decline from the 30 points and 43 points he tallied in the two prior years. When he's at the top of his game, Miller is a legitimate game changer. He is a gifted skater capable of going end-to-end on offense, and is adept at getting back on the play to make defensive stops.

His major problem this past season was turnovers, as he gave the puck away 97 times after taking it away just 47 times. That 97 number is way up from the 34 he had a year prior, and represents the worst of his career. Miller gave the puck away 68 times in 2022-23, but also took it away 61 times. These metrics aren't everything, but just speak to the nature of his game recently.