Following their elimination in the Eastern Conference Final for the second occasion in the last three years, the Carolina Hurricanes have made a significant move to bolster their team by acquiring defenseman K’Andre Miller in a transaction with the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
As part of the deal, the Rangers obtained a 2026 first-round pick with conditions, a 2026 second-round pick, and defenseman Scott Morrow in return for Miller, who was a restricted free agent. Miller committed to an eight-year contract with the Hurricanes, featuring an average annual value of $7.5 million.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the two entities collaborated on a sign-and-trade arrangement after the Hurricanes communicated their intent to sign Miller via an offer sheet.
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Chris Bengel
Miller recently concluded his fourth season with the Rangers, accumulating 27 points (seven goals and 20 assists) across 74 games. The 25-year-old defenseman achieved his most productive professional season in 2022-23, amassing 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) in 79 games.
Miller’s position became less secure after the Rangers secured the services of Vladislav Gavrikov, a former defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings, with a seven-year, $49 million agreement. Gavrikov is anticipated to partner with Adam Fox, forming New York’s primary defensive duo.
Let’s delve deeper into the acquisitions of each team and how Miller integrates with the Hurricanes.
The transaction
Hurricanes acquire
Rangers acquire
- Conditional 2026 first-round pick (top 10 protected)
- 2026 second-round pick
- Scott Morrow (D)
Assessments
Carolina Hurricanes
Given that Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns both became unrestricted free agents on Tuesday, the Hurricanes were poised to implement modifications to their defensive lineup. With the acquisition of Miller, Carolina has significantly reinforced their defensive corps and simultaneously introduced younger talent.
While Miller’s performance has experienced a downturn over the past two seasons, the 25-year-old defenseman still possesses substantial potential. Notably, he is on the verge of entering the peak of his career and has not accumulated excessive physical strain as he arrives in Carolina.
Miller is a versatile two-way defenseman characterized by above-average skating ability and a formidable shot. The seasoned blue-liner demonstrates willingness to engage in offensive plays and direct the puck towards the net. While Miller has yet to achieve a season with double-digit goal scoring, the capacity for such an accomplishment exists.
One of the primary advantages of Miller’s move to Carolina lies in the fact that he will not be immediately thrust into a top pairing role. The Hurricanes already boast Jaccob Slavin, one of the league’s premier defensemen, on the left side. Miller is likely to be positioned in the team’s second pairing alongside Jalen Chatfield or Shayne Gostisbehere.
The Hurricanes are wagering on Miller’s resurgence to his pre-2023-24 form, which could be perceived as a moderate risk given his $7.5 million annual cap hit. The potential for Miller to once again exert a significant impact is present, but this outcome remains to be observed. Assessment: B-
New York Rangers
The Rangers are coming off a season where they did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years. Consequently, general manager Chris Drury was motivated to implement adjustments to the team’s composition.
Following a career-best 43 points in 2022-23, Miller’s offensive output decreased somewhat, with a combined total of just 57 points over the previous two seasons. New York hesitated to commit to Miller with a long-term contract, which ultimately led to Tuesday’s transaction.
Scott Morrow is the sole player that the Rangers will obtain as part of the arrangement. Morrow has participated in only 16 NHL games, with 14 of those appearances occurring during the 2024-25 season. He was initially projected as a third pairing defenseman with the Hurricanes and is likely to be viewed similarly, contingent upon New York’s subsequent acquisitions during the summer.
The right-handed shooting defenseman is an above-average skater with a considerable degree of offensive skill in his repertoire. At the very least, the Rangers have reacquired a depth blue-liner in exchange for Miller’s services.
Regarding the draft picks, securing a first and second-round selection in exchange for a player who did not align with the team’s long-term strategy represents a commendable return. Naturally, it is challenging to comprehensively assess a transaction involving draft picks before ascertaining the Rangers’ eventual selections, but the return is undeniably substantial. Assessment: B+
