At this point, it seemed like the New York Rangers would have a straightforward decision regarding veteran star. However, the team now faces a tough choice this offseason — whether to offer him a new contract or let him go.
A 25-year-old former first-round pick, brings size, athleticism, and experience with 368 NHL games under his belt, primarily serving in a defensive, shutdown role. On paper, he appears to be an obvious candidate for a long-term extension.
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However, concerns arise when you consider his stagnating development and dip in performance over the past two seasons. It raises the question of whether he’s the kind of player the Rangers should commit to long-term — potentially for the next seven years — and hope he turns things around as he enters his prime.
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Keeping Miller could pay off big if he develops into a reliable top-four defenseman — or it could burden the Rangers with a costly contract tied to untapped potential.
On the flip side, trading him might yield a strong return from a team eager to unlock his upside. But if he turns into a two-way force elsewhere, it could haunt Chris Drury and the Rangers for years, especially if they struggle to find a capable replacement.
It’s a tough decision looming this offseason. Miller is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and likely aiming for a major payday, especially with unrestricted free agency just two years away.
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“I’d move on from K’Andre,” ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski said on the RINK RAP podcast by Forever Blueshirts. “The problem with Miller is that his development hasn’t progressed the way I expected at this stage of his career. You could attribute that to the Rangers’ defensive structure or his partners, but ultimately, I’d trade him now.”
Of course, that’s just one perspective. Let’s see how the rest of the Forever Blueshirts team analyzes the situation.
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Debating whether Rangers should sign or trade K’Andre Miller
Jim Cerny – Executive Editor
Ideally, I’d prefer to see K’Andre Miller play under a new coaching staff and defensive system before the Rangers make a long-term financial commitment. The most realistic way to achieve that is by taking him to arbitration on a one-year deal this summer. But arbitration can be a rough process that might strain his relationship with the team. Still, it would give the Rangers more time and data to evaluate whether his two-year slide in production, expected goals against, and high-danger chances allowed is something he can bounce back from.
Some of his struggles might be explained by the man-to-man defensive system used the past two seasons, which may not have suited him well—that could help explain why he was frequently caught out of position. However, that doesn’t excuse his costly mistakes with the puck in his own zone. His 97 giveaways this season were nearly three times his total from the previous year. Was that a fluke or part of a concerning trend?
Offensively, he’s been deployed heavily in the defensive zone, more than any other Rangers defenseman. Still, with his skill set, a 30–40 point season is not unrealistic, especially if paired with someone like Adam Fox. Ultimately, I’d gauge trade interest around the league and consider his contract demands. My preference would be to re-sign him to a reasonable deal—unless an offer blows me away.
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John Kreiser – Senior Writer
K’Andre Miller has all the physical attributes to be a top-tier NHL defenseman—size, speed, and skill. But even back in his junior years, I’ve always felt he lacked a key element: the hockey IQ to tie it all together. While he showed some improvement after Will Borgen joined the team midseason, it’s becoming clearer that Miller likely won’t develop into the elite blueliner the Rangers once envisioned.
As a restricted free agent, he’s probably seeking both term and a significant payday. That doesn’t mean you offload him for nothing, but if a strong trade offer comes in, I’d say it’s worth taking.
Dane Walsh – Staff Writer
K’Andre Miller’s situation is a tricky one that GM Chris Drury must manage carefully heading into the 2025-26 season. While Miller hasn’t fully lived up to his potential yet, his advanced metrics were solid last season despite a dip in scoring—a trend seen across the roster. Though he hasn’t earned a major long-term contract, giving him a one- or two-year “prove-it” deal is a smarter play than trading him and watching him thrive elsewhere. Miller—and others on the team—deserve a chance to grow under a potentially revamped system.
Tom Castro – Staff Writer
Deciding Miller’s future is one of the toughest tasks the Rangers face. At 25, he possesses rare physical tools and talent that should project him as a future top-pair defenseman, perhaps even in the mold of Victor Hedman. But after two seasons of stagnation and even decline, the Rangers must consider moving him while he still has perceived value. His inconsistent performances and repeated defensive lapses may be inherent flaws rather than temporary setbacks. With his entry-level bridge deal finished and a bigger payday looming, it’s a risky gamble to commit long-term. Trading him now, as part of Drury’s ongoing effort to reshape the defense, might be the wiser course given the lingering uncertainty around his development.
Eric Charles – Staff Writer
Veteran free agents like Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov could fill a top-pair role alongside Adam Fox, but both are older and likely come with a higher price tag than Miller, who’s only 25 and still developing. Though he had a rough season, this may be the perfect opportunity for the Rangers to re-sign him at a more team-friendly rate, with greater long-term upside than pricier options on the market. As Miller matures, he has the tools to thrive—especially in playoff hockey. Ideally, the Rangers could hold on to Miller, move off Carson Soucy’s contract, and package Zac Jones with draft picks to land a dependable, lower-cost second-pair defenseman like Mario Ferraro. That would be Plan A—unless Miller’s contract demands exceed $6.5 million annually. Letting him go and seeing him flourish elsewhere, as Pavel Buchnevich did after his trade to St. Louis, would be a tough pill to swallow.