New York Rangers Daily: Are Blueshirts willing to move on from K’Andre Miller?; Brad Marchand is double-OT hero at Stanley Cup Final
Could New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller, a restricted free agent, be on the move this summer?
Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects says there’s plenty of interest in the 25-year-old, and that the Rangers have told teams he’s available. Robinson says Miller could also be the target of an offer sheet, and with the Rangers close to the salary cap and having key RFAs like Will Cuylle needing new contracts, potential suitors could opt for that route.
There’s no doubt that Miller has the wheels and the skills to be an impact player. But he’s never had the kind of breakout season the Rangers and their fans were hoping for. He struggled badly at times this season, finishing with 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 74 games. He also finished with an even plus-minus rating, the first time in his five NHL seasons that he wasn’t a plus player.
It’s the second straight season his points total has dropped after he had a career-high 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) in 2022-23.
Miller is coming off a two-year contract that has an average annual value of $3,872,000, according to PuckPedia. He also had surgery last month to repair an upper-body injury sustained toward the end of the season. A League source told the New York Post that Miller tried to rehab the undisclosed injury but ultimately decided surgery was his best option – he’s expected to be back around the start of next season.
There figures to be plenty of interest if the Rangers decide, for whatever reason, to move on from Miller. The San Jose Sharks, who desperately need help on defense, are among the teams rumored to be sniffing around.
New York Rangers news
New coach Mike Sullivan’s coaching staff is set after he named three assistants – including one who Rangers fans are quite familiar with.
Rangers legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Ed Giacomin turned 86 on Friday. Here’s a look at “Fast Eddie’s” decade in New York, which saw him do everything but win a Stanley Cup.
Our Eric Charles takes a look at two more value options available to the Rangers if they decide to use their first-round pick (No. 12) in this year’s NHL Draft. Lynden Lakovic and Benjamin Kindel figure to be available if the Rangers decide not to give their pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
NHL news and rumors
Sportsnaut: Brad Marchand was the hero for the Florida Panthers on Friday, scoring at 8:05 of the second overtime to give the Cats a series-tying 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. We look at three takeaways from a memorable night.
Sportsnaut: Game 2 of the Final by the numbers. Game 3 is Monday night in Sunrise, Florida.
Sportsnaut: Our Ryan McInerney looks at the winners and losers from Game 2. Hockey fans definitely fall into the “Winners” category after watching the Panthers and Oilers start the series by splitting two overtime games.
NHL.com: So what do players do on travel days in the Final, especially on the five-hour flight from Edmonton to South Florida? Eating and playing cards are two of the most popular pastimes.
Sportsnaut: In the wake of the firing of Peter DeBoer by the Dallas Stars on Friday, one week after they were bounced in the Western Conference Final for the third straight year, here’s a look at the NHL’s 10 longest-tenured coaches. Suffice it to say that this is one profession where there’s not a lot of job security.
NHL.com: Spencer Carbery was named winner of the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL’s top coach — with his family on hand. Carbery led the Washington Capitals to first place in the Metropolitan Division and the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach under Craig Berube, beginning next season. He coached the Detroit Red Wings for two-plus seasons before being fired in December.
ESPN: Colorado Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor had hip surgery Friday and isn’t expected back until December at the earliest.
Tampa Bay Times: The Tampa Bay Lightning filled the coaching staff vacancy created recently when Jeff Blashill was hired as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks by hiring former NHL forward Dan Hinote as an assistant under Jon Cooper. Hinote had been coaching with Colorado of the AHL.
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