K'Andre Miller: NY Rangers send defenseman to Hurricanes as part of sign-and-trade

Yet another Ranger who played a critical role on teams that made the Eastern Conference Final twice in three years from 2022-2024 is being shown the door.

K'Andre Miller has been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for first- and second-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft and defenseman prospect Scott Morrow, according to a league source who spoke to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, on the condition of anonymity.

The first-rounder is top-10 protected and conditional since the Canes own two selections, including one that originally belonged to the Dallas Stars. If neither pick is in the top 10, the Rangers will receive the better of the two. If one is in the top 10, they'll get the other. And if both are in the top 10, New York will receive the better of Carolina's two 2027 firsts.

The sign-and-trade, which was contingent on Miller inking a reported eight-year, $60 million extension, was processed among a flurry of free-agent activity on July 1. It completed the latest chapter in an ongoing purge that's seen Rangers team president Chris Drury execute 10 trades in less than seven months.

The 25-year-old defenseman is the eighth player from the 2023-24 Presidents' Trophy-winning squad to be traded or waived in a little over a year, joining Filip Chytil, Barclay Goodrow, Kaapo Kakko, Chris Kreider, Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and former captain Jacob Trouba.

Here's a reality that's even more jarring: Miller had been the last man standing among six first-round picks the Rangers made during the 2017-19 rebuild era. None remain with the organization.

His departure not only highlights previous failures in drafting and development; it sends a talented, relatively young player to a Metro Division rival while leaving a hole on a defense that already had a few of them.

The Rangers plugged one earlier in the day by signing top unrestricted free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract. He'll take Miller's spot as New York's No. 1 left-handed D and presumably play on the top pair with Adam Fox, but the depth behind him remains suspect.

Miller ranked second on the team behind Fox in average time on ice per game the past three seasons, finishing at 21:34 or higher in each of them. He regularly took on the toughest matchups while becoming a go-to penalty killer, but it was his maddening inconsistencies that convinced Drury it was time to move on.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder's physical tools are undeniable, with a combination of speed, reach and agility that coaches crave from their blue-liners. He'd tantalize by blowing by defenders off the rush or smothering forwards in the D zone, but his successes were often overshadowed by missed assignments and costly turnovers. None of New York's regular defensemen were on ice for more goals against per 60 minutes this past season than Miller's 2.99, according to Evolving Hockey.

Some of the criticism directed at the St. Paul, Minnesota native has been over the top, especially given the demanding role he was asked to play and team-wide defensive issues. But after posting a career-high 43 points (nine goals and 34 assists) with solid metrics in what was considered a breakout 2022-23 season, his production dipped the next two seasons while the tendency for loud mistakes lingered.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 02: K'Andre Miller #79 of the New York Rangers reacts after a call during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2024 in New York City.

Miller never quite blossomed into the all-around force the Rangers envisioned − and now they'll risk watching it happen in Carolina, a team they've run into in the playoffs three times in the past six years.

Drury may come to regret giving up on that vast potential. He could have negotiated a short-term deal and given new head coach Mike Sullivan a chance to unlock Miller, but he was unwilling to commit to the restricted free agent and wanted to get value in return before unrestricted free agency came calling in 2027. He also wanted to ensure he had enough salary cap space to pursue Gavrikov and retain RFA forward Will Cuylle, who signed a two-year, $7.8 million extension shortly before the Miller trade was announced.

Gavrikov is four years older than Miller with less skill and athleticism, but the Rangers are gladly trading flash for stability. They're also getting it for $500,000 less per season after Miller's new AAV surprising came in above Gavrikov's.

Otherwise, New York's defensemen depth chart is thin on the left side. Veteran Carson Soucy is coming off a down year, while Matthew Robertson and Urho Vaakanainen profile as fringey lineup choices. One source indicated that the team views Braden Schneider, a natural righty, as an option to shift to the left, if needed.

In that case, Morrow could factor in as a right-handed contender to take Schneider's old spot on the bottom pair. He's a 22-year-old prospect who posted 39 points (13 goals and 26 assists) in 52 games with AHL Chicago last season while registering six points (one goal and five assists) in 14 games with the Canes.

The trade return ended up looking better than expected after the Rangers struggled to find a deal to their liking prior to last weekend's draft. It required opening it up to a division rival, who valued Miller's upside enough to make it happen.

That helped Drury put a bow on an active day in which he accomplished each of his three primary objectives, even if it meant pulling the plug on yet another player the organization once had high hopes for.

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: K'Andre Miller: NY Rangers send defenseman to Hurricanes as part of sign-and-trade