Reason behind Rangers wanting K’Andre Miller out of New York exposed

It’s been quite a chaotic 2024-25 season for the New York Rangers, who earlier this week, traded veteran forward Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. And apparently general manager Chris Drury is looking to make more significant changes in order to guarantee there won’t be a repeat next season.

For the past weeks, it has been reported, following a report from Larry Brooks of the New York Times, that K’Andre Miller was a much discussed player at the scouting combine ahead of the NHL Draft, and how he believes that Miller may have already played his last game with the Rangers.

Brooks’ sources have indicated that an offer sheet for Miller is likely if he isn’t traded prior to become a restricted free agent on July 1st, and on Friday morning, insider Elliotte Friedman explained on his 32 Thoughts why the Blue Shirts are looking to move Miller. Via NHL Trade Alert on X:

“Elliotte is hearing the reason K’Andre Miller’s name is out there is because the team does not want to sign him to a long term extension. Elliotte is getting push back on Alexis Lafreniere, “If Lafreniere is available it’s not widely known.”

Miller, who was drafted 22nd overall by the Rangers at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, has played a significant role on their back end over the last several seasons. He has since appeared in 368 NHL games with New York, scoring 36 goals and 96 assists for a total of 132 career points. Miller has averaged over 21 minutes of ice time a night over the last five seasons which would leave GM Drury a significant hole to fill on the blue line.

According to Marco D'Amico, sources have informed RG.org that Ivan Provorov is one of the New York Rangers' prime targets heading into July 1, as well as Vladislav Gavrikov.

Brooks has also suggested that the Rangers would be willing to consider a lateral move, perhaps even a swap for another defenseman, with the driving factor behind such a move reportedly being Drury’s desire to drastically shift the culture in the Rangers’ dressing room.

With Kreider out, the change is already huge and things could keep moving this summer, with Miller.