Tuesday brought the start of the NHL's free agency frenzy for teams across the league, and for the New York Rangers this resulted in immediate change for their defense.
General Manager and President Chris Drury did away with one defenseman and acquired three in his first day of free agency. K'Andre Miller was finally sent to Carolina in a departure that's been expected for quite some time. But, it's the moved that the Blueshirts got following that will really transform the shape of the Rangers' defense.
Here's how the blueline will transform next year as a result of day one of NHL free agency.
Saying goodbye to K'Andre Miller
Miller was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes in an eight year deal in exchange for defenseman Scott Morrow, and first and second round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Ahead of the trade, Miller was a restricted free agent two years way from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
#NYR Trade Details: pic.twitter.com/o12GxLVezO
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 1, 2025
Many Rangers fans wanted him gone due to his recent decline in production — Miller appeared in 74 games and had 27 points throughout the most recent campaign.
Selected by New York in the first round (No. 22) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Miller had 132 points (36 goals, 96 assists) in 368 regular-season games and 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 43 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the New York franchise ahead of going to the Hurricanes.
"It was definitely in the back of my head that something could happen, might happen," Miller said to Peter Baugh over Zoom. "I loved my time in New York, it was great, but I'm excited for what's to come in Carolina."
Saying hello to Vladislav Gavrikov
Vladislav Gavrikov was one of the first grabs by Drury during day one of free agency.
The 29-year-old Russian, who is slated to become Adam Fox’s partner on what should be the club’s matchup pair, comes in at $49 million for seven years. Gavrikov has actually been linked to the Rangers for around a month. He was also known a defensive force for the Los Angeles Kings this year for anyone with eyes — of the 85 defensemen who were on for at least 1,250 minutes at five-on-five this season, Gavrikov ranked sixth both in goals-for percentage at 59.2 and xGF at 62.69.
Saying hello to Scott Morrow
In the deal for sending Miller to Carolina, the Rangers acquired defenseman Scott Morrow.
Morrow is a 6'2", 210-pound, right-handed shot defenseman that was drafted No. 40 overall in 2021. He made his NHL debut towards the end of the 2023-24 season and split time between Carolina and the Chicago Wolves last season. In 52 AHL games, he registered 13 goals and 26 assists for a total of 39 points, and in 14 NHL games he scored his first NHL goal and picked up six assists.
What's good about Morrow (only 22-years-old) is he is often described as just as mobile and possessing an ability to control the puck similar to Fox. He was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Hurricanes system by Scott Wheeler of the Athletic last January.
Saying hello to Derrick Pouliot
The more Stanley Cup champions you have on the roster, the better. The Rangers continued their Tuesday signing spree by signing a former top-10 defenseman to a two-year contract.
That defenseman is Derrick Pouliot — a 31-year-old who will bring experience as a veteran of the league to the ice.
Pouliot has spent 410 games in the American Hockey League as a journeyman defender, and has compiled 52 goals, 214 assists, and 266 points in that span averaging 0.65 points per game. He also brings 226 games of NHL experience in which he recorded a line of 8-46-54 for a 0.24 points per game average.
Pouliot will also be likely depended on to help transform the Rangers' blueline from first-year Head Coach Mike Sullivan; Pouliot was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2015-16 season, and he won a Stanley Cup with Sullivan.