K`Andre Miller recently avoided his phone and social media due to uncertainty surrounding his future after five seasons with the New York Rangers.
Now, he is eager to integrate into the Carolina Hurricanes` high-tempo system.
The Hurricanes bolstered their defensive lineup by acquiring the 25-year-old former first-round draft pick and signing him to a long-term contract on Tuesday, the initial day of free agency. He joins a franchise that has reached the playoffs for seven consecutive years, making it to the Eastern Conference Final three times during that period.
Carolina boasts a prominent defenseman in Jaccob Slavin but is restructuring its defensive group with veteran players Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov unlikely to return. These adjustments included trading defenseman Scott Morrow, a promising prospect who filled in during the playoffs due to injuries, along with draft selections, to New York to secure Miller.
They are such a fast team. They transition quickly up and down the ice and play cohesively as a unit. They`re an exciting team to watch, and they`ve been very successful lately. I`m really looking forward to adopting their style of play and joining such a great team.
— K`Andre Miller
The Hurricanes see the six-foot-five, 210-pound Miller as a strong addition, citing his size and skating ability. They anticipate he will strengthen a system that relies on an aggressive forecheck to pressure opponents, gain puck control, and maintain pressure in the offensive zone.
Carolina is demonstrating confidence in Miller`s continued development, granting him an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million extending through the 2032-33 season.
He displayed flashes of his potential during his tenure with the Rangers, a frequent opponent for the Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division. The 22nd overall selection in the 2018 draft by the Rangers has participated in at least 74 regular-season games for four consecutive seasons, recording 17 goals and 56 assists for a total of 73 points over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
However, his performance declined last season, leading him from being perceived as a foundational player for the Rangers to becoming potentially expendable. This coincided with the Rangers` own struggles, going from Presidents` Trophy winners in 2024 to finishing six points outside a wild-card playoff position this year.
Following the season, Miller focused on tuning out “all the speculation and kind of noise and uncertainty surrounding New York.” His attention shifted to getting stronger physically and preparing mentally for his next step.
And now, that step represents a new beginning.
Miller commented, “I believe there was a lot of speculation during the season. So I think it was definitely in the back of my head that something could potentially happen. I really enjoyed my time in New York, it was wonderful, but I`m enthusiastic about my future in Carolina.”
