Following two Eastern Conference Final exits in the past three years, the Carolina Hurricanes have made a significant move to enhance their roster by acquiring defenseman K`Andre Miller from the New York Rangers in a trade completed on Tuesday.
As part of the transaction, the Rangers received a conditional first-round pick in 2026, a second-round pick also in 2026, and defenseman Scott Morrow. In return, they sent Miller, who was a restricted free agent, to Carolina. Miller subsequently signed an eight-year contract with the Hurricanes, carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million.
According to reports from Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman, the two teams finalized the agreement as a sign-and-trade deal, which came after the Hurricanes had reportedly considered extending an offer sheet to Miller.
Miller recently concluded his fourth season with the Rangers, where he registered 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) across 74 games. The 25-year-old defenseman`s most productive professional campaign occurred in 2022-23, when he tallied 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) over 79 games.
Miller became a more readily available asset for the Rangers after the team signed former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year contract worth $49 million. Gavrikov is expected to skate alongside Adam Fox, forming New York`s top defensive pairing.
Let`s examine what each team gained in the trade and how Miller is expected to fit into the Hurricanes` lineup.
The Trade Details
Hurricanes Received:
- K`Andre Miller (D)
Rangers Received:
- Conditional 2026 first-round pick (top 10 protected)
- 2026 second-round pick
- Scott Morrow (D)
Trade Grades
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes were anticipated to make defensive changes, especially with both Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns becoming unrestricted free agents on Tuesday. By acquiring Miller, Carolina made a significant upgrade to their defensive corps while also getting younger.
Although Miller`s performance has shown a slight dip over the last couple of seasons, the 25-year-old defenseman still possesses considerable potential. He is just approaching the prime years of his career and arrives in Carolina without significant physical wear and tear.
Miller is known as a two-way defenseman with above-average skating ability and a powerful shot. He is comfortable joining the offensive rush and directing pucks towards the net. While he hasn`t yet reached double-digit goals in a season, there is potential for him to do so in the future.
A key benefit of Miller joining Carolina is that he won`t be immediately burdened with top-pairing responsibilities. The Hurricanes already boast one of the league`s premier defensemen on the left side in Jaccob Slavin. Miller is likely to slot into the team`s second defensive pairing, potentially alongside Jalen Chatfield or Shayne Gostisbehere.
The Hurricanes are banking on Miller rediscovering the form he displayed prior to the 2023-24 season. This represents some risk given his $7.5 million annual cap hit. However, the potential for Miller to once again become a dominant force is certainly present, though it`s something that needs to be demonstrated on the ice. Grade: B-
New York Rangers
Coming off a season where they missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years, the New York Rangers` general manager, Chris Drury, was looking to make roster adjustments.
Following a career-best 43 points in 2022-23, Miller`s production declined somewhat, accumulating just 57 points over the subsequent two seasons combined. New York was reportedly hesitant to commit to Miller on a long-term deal, which ultimately led to Tuesday`s trade.
Scott Morrow is the lone player asset the Rangers acquired in the transaction. Morrow has limited NHL experience, having played just 16 games, with 14 of those occurring during the 2024-25 campaign. He was projected as a third-pairing defenseman with the Hurricanes and would likely be viewed similarly depending on the Rangers` other offseason moves.
Morrow, a right-shot defenseman, is regarded as an above-average skater with notable offensive capabilities in his game. At a minimum, the Rangers secured a depth defenseman in return for Miller`s services.
Regarding the draft picks, obtaining a first-round and a second-round selection for a player who didn`t align with the team`s long-term strategy constitutes a solid return. While it`s challenging to fully assess a trade involving draft picks before seeing who is ultimately selected, it`s certainly a worthwhile haul. Grade: B+
