By now, you’d expect the New York Rangers to have a clear decision regarding K’Andre Miller. However, they’re still facing a tough choice this offseason: whether to re-sign him or let him go.
Miller, a 25-year-old defenseman with size, athleticism, and 368 NHL games under his belt—mostly in a shutdown role—has the profile of someone you’d typically lock up with a long-term deal.
But concerns arise when you look at his stagnant development and declining production over the past two seasons. It raises the question of whether he’s truly the kind of player the Rangers should commit to for the next seven years, hoping he’ll turn things around as he enters his prime.
The Rangers face a tough decision with K’Andre Miller: Keep him and potentially see him grow into a top-four defenseman, or risk the possibility of his potential going unfulfilled under a costly contract.
Trading him could bring in a strong return from a team eager to acquire Miller, but there’s also the chance he blossoms into a two-way star, making the Rangers regret the decision for years as they struggle to replace him.
It’s a complicated situation. Miller is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and is coming off a $3.872 AAV deal. With two years left before hitting unrestricted free agency, Miller and his agent might push for a big payday.
“I would trade K’Andre,” said ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski on the RINK RAP podcast. “The issue with K’Andre is that I don’t think the growth has been where I’d like it to be at this point in his career. You can blame it on the state of the Rangers’ blue line, his partners… but I’d move him now.”
Opinions are divided. It’ll be interesting to see how the Forever Blueshirts staff breaks it down.
Debating whether Rangers should sign or trade K’Andre Miller
Jim Cerny – Executive Editor
Ideally, I’d want to see Miller play next season under a new coaching staff and defensive system before committing to a costly long-term contract. The best way to do that might be to take him to arbitration for a one-year deal this summer. However, the arbitration process can be ugly, and it could potentially harm Miller’s relationship with the team. Still, it would give the Rangers more insight into whether his two-year drop in production, expected goals, high-danger chances against, etc., is a trend that can be reversed.
Right now, it could be argued that Miller didn’t fit well with the man-to-man defensive system the Rangers have used the past two seasons, which might explain why he lost his man so often. But that doesn’t excuse his frequent mistakes with the puck in his own zone. His 97 giveaways this season were nearly three times his total from 2023-24. Is that an anomaly, or is it part of a pattern?
Offensively, Miller starts more often in the defensive zone than any other Rangers defenseman. But with his natural talent, 30-40 points per season should be within reach, especially if he’s paired with Adam Fox going forward.
All things considered, I’d talk to teams to gauge his trade value, then see what kind of money and term Miller is seeking. My preference would be to sign him to a reasonable contract—not too high—unless a trade offer is too good to pass up.
John Kreiser – Senior Writer
Even dating back to his junior days, I’ve always felt something was missing with Miller. The hockey IQ that should complement his physical skills just hasn’t developed. He showed some improvement after Will Borgen’s arrival midseason, but it’s clear now that he’s unlikely to become the elite defenseman the Rangers once hoped for. As a restricted free agent, he’ll likely be seeking both money and term. Don’t just give him away, but if a strong offer comes through, the Rangers should consider taking it.
Dane Walsh – Staff Writer
Miller is in a tricky spot that Drury needs to handle carefully if he wants to start the 2025-26 season on the right note. Miller has shown glimpses of great potential, and his advanced stats from last season were actually quite strong. Although his point production dropped, that trend applied to most of the team. While I don’t think Miller has fully earned a big, long-term contract yet, offering him a 1-2 year “prove-it” deal seems like a better option than trading him, which could result in him becoming a standout defenseman elsewhere. I believe Miller, along with several other Rangers players, deserves an opportunity to prove himself with the team.
Tom Castro – Staff Writer
The Rangers face a difficult decision with Miller, who, at 25, possesses a rare blend of skills that should make him a cornerstone for their defense. Standing tall and mobile, with strong athleticism and offensive talent, Miller could be envisioned as a future top-pair, multi-dimensional defenseman in the mold of Victor Hedman. However, his lack of growth over the past two seasons – and even his regression, particularly in 2024-25 – means the Rangers might want to consider trading him while he still holds perceived value that could lead to a solid return. His frustrating inconsistency, combined with frequent turnovers and mistakes in his own zone, could be traits of his game that don’t necessarily improve. Additionally, waiting for Miller’s development is becoming increasingly expensive. After completing a two-year, $7.7 million bridge deal, he’s set to sign a long-term contract. This is a risky move for the Rangers, who have watched his performance trend downward over the past two years. While parting with such a promising talent carries risk, trading him and continuing the defensive overhaul that general manager Drury started this season may be the prudent choice, given the uncertainty surrounding Miller’s future with the team.
Eric Charles – Staff Writer
While free agent defensemen like Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov could step into the top pair alongside Adam Fox for the long term, they are both older and likely more expensive than Miller, who is just entering his prime. Although this season was challenging for the 25-year-old, the Rangers could capitalize on his down year by acquiring him at a better value, with greater upside compared to the top left-shot defensemen available on the market. Miller’s maturity is close at hand, and with the team’s culture set for a reality check in other areas, it’s often players like him who flourish as they mature, especially in the postseason. Keeping Miller, moving on from Carson Soucy’s contract, trading Zac Jones, and using draft capital could be enough to bring in a reliable, short-term top-four defenseman, such as the tough Mario Ferraro, to complement Miller. This would be my preferred approach unless Miller’s asking price exceeds $6.5 million per year. If the Rangers were to trade him and watch him blossom into an even better version of himself as he matures, it would be as frustrating as seeing Pavel Buchnevich thrive with the St. Louis Blues after Drury traded him away in 2021.
