Ex-Rangers defenseman reflects on New York tenure, embraces ‘second start’
For the first time in his six-year NHL career, former New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller stepped on the Madison Square Garden ice as a visiting player Tuesday.
The 25-year-old didn’t suit up when the Carolina Hurricanes face-off with the Rangers in a Metropolitan Division clash, though. Miller is still nursing a lower-body injury sustained Oct. 20, but he joined Carolina’s morning skate in a regular practice jersey.
This is his first return to The Garden since the Rangers traded Miller to the Hurricanes on July 1. He has four points (two goals, two assists) in six games, but missed Carolina’s past five contests and remains on IR.
Miller’s five-season tenure with the Rangers isn’t the feel-good story it could have been. After a promising rookie campaign in 2020-21 that earned him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team, and a career-best nine-goal, 43-point 2022-23 season, the former first-round pick (No. 22 overall in 2018) trended toward becoming a mainstay in New York’s defense corps for years to come.
It wasn’t to be. Highlight-reel plays and incredible athleticism stood in contrast to inconsistent production and sloppy turnovers, culminating in a frustrating conclusion to his time on Broadway.
With Miller a restricted free agent holding arbitration rights after a subpar 2024-25 season, the Rangers didn’t want to commit long term for big bucks — so they moved him to the Hurricanes in a summer sign-and-trade.
Carolina came to terms with the left-shot defenseman on an eight-year, $60 million contract. That average annual value of $7.5 million is more than the Rangers gave the more experienced and reliable defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov ($7 million AAV over seven seasons) in free agency.
Speaking to reporters after practice Tuesday, Miller candidly reflected on a five-year Blueshirts tenure that spanned 368 regular-season games and 43 more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“Confidence-wise and just what I wanted from myself, I wasn’t getting all the results I wanted here,” Miller conceded. “I blame myself for that.”
According to Evolving Hockey, Miller was 42nd percentile defensively during his final season with the Rangers, marking his first time below League average since his 53-game rookie campaign. Meanwhile, his offensive production dipped under 30 points for the first time in three seasons; Miller finished with seven goals and 27 points in 74 games.
“I had some struggles throughout my years here. The ups and downs just kind of took a toll and it was in my head for a lot of the time I was here,” he acknowledged. “It’s been good getting out to Raleigh. That slower style of pace, that slower style of living has benefited me a ton and really given me a second start.”
K’Andre Miller appreciates time with Rangers
Miller made a strong first impression in his Hurricanes debut, scoring twice and helping them open the season with a 6-3 home win over the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 9. Afterward, the former Blueshirt joked with the Lenovo Center crowd during an on-ice interview postgame.
“I honestly hated playing here when I was on the other side, so I’m happy you guys are in my corner now.”
The sixth-year pro clearly embraces his fresh start, but he expressed gratitude for his five seasons with the Rangers.
“I’ve had a number of talks with guys that have been on New York, that have got dealt out of New York, and I think their biggest thing is, you really don’t realize how great you have it here until it’s gone,” Miller said. “From the amenities to the travel to the food — it’s just the little things that you take to appreciate after the fact.”
Of course, there was plenty to appreciate about Miller in a Rangers uniform, too. He logged significant minutes in a top-four shutdown role with a variety of partners during his Rangers tenure. He also played an important part helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2022 and 2024, and win the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24.
Miller has three more chances to play against his former team this regular season. Carolina hosts New York on Nov. 26 and Dec. 29, before returning to MSG on Feb. 5.
Don’t discount a possible head-to-head clash in the postseason, either. If not this go-round, at some point during Miller’s extended run with the Hurricanes that carries though the 2032-33 season.
