The New York Rangers entered this season with Stanley Cup aspirations. Instead, they find themselves battling to stay out of the Eastern Conference basement. After already shipping out Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko, General Manager Chris Drury seems poised to continue retooling the roster as the March 7th trade deadline approaches.
And now, a new name has surfaced in trade rumors: K’Andre Miller.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff recently reported that a Miller trade is “not out of the realm of possibility.” Seravalli highlighted Miller’s tantalizing combination of size and skill, stating, “With such a rare combination of size and athleticism, lots of teams would love to get their hands on the insanely gifted Miller. The flashes of brilliance are there, but he just hasn’t been able to put it all together on a consistent enough basis.”
This assessment rings true. Miller, the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, has shown glimpses of his elite potential. At 6’5″ and 210 pounds, he’s a physically imposing presence on the blue line with the skating ability to join the rush and create offense. However, his decision-making and consistency have been questioned throughout his young career.
Is a K’Andre Miller Trade Imminent?
Seravalli believes that if the Rangers haven’t turned their season around by February 1st, Drury will pull the trigger on a Miller trade. This makes sense from a strategic standpoint. Miller, 24, is a pending restricted free agent with an AAV of $3.872 million. His value is high, and the Rangers could command a significant return for him in a trade market hungry for young, talented defensemen.
Several teams immediately come to mind as potential suitors. The Edmonton Oilers, always looking to bolster their blue line, could be an ideal fit. The Los Angeles Kings, with their deep prospect pool, could also make a strong push for Miller. The Dallas Stars could also be contenders, as they’ll have cap space freed up by Tyler Seguin’s LTIR and enticing blue-chip prospects to offer the NY Rangers.
Of course, trading Miller is not without risk. He’s still young and has room to grow. If he can put it all together, he could be a cornerstone defenseman for years to come. However, with the Rangers seemingly heading for a rebuild, Drury may decide that the time is right to cash in on Miller’s value and acquire assets that better fit the team’s long-term timeline.
The next few weeks will be crucial for both the Rangers and K’Andre Miller. If the Blueshirts can string together some wins and climb back into the playoff race, perhaps Miller stays put. But if they continue to struggle, a trade seems almost inevitable.
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