What could RFA K'Andre Miller get on his next deal with the New York Rangers?

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Joshua Deeds
November 2, 2024 (7:38 PM)

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The New York Rangers recently signed winger Alexis Lafreniere to a 7-year $52.15 million deal.

He was the first domino to fall in the Rangers' bunch of restricted free agents who will need to be extended.

Next up is K'Andre Millerwhose $3.872 million dollar deal expires at the end of this season. This means the 2018 1st round NHL draft pick will need to be signed, or traded.

Right now, the Rangers have $1.38 Million in salary cap space to work with and still have Igor Shesterkin waiting in the wings for his new deal as well.

But GM Chris Drury will have to find money to pay K'Andre Miller, who is due a raise.

K'Andre Miller had a career year in 2022-2023 scoring 43 points( 9 G, 34 A) and since then has seen a decline in production.

His next contract could end up being $6 Million AAV according to Pro Hockey Rumors:

The 24-year-old will be owed a $4.646MM qualifying offer in the summer but could conceivably push past $6MM on a longer-term deal. With a couple of years of club control remaining, New York would undoubtedly have considerable interest in his services, allowing them to help alleviate that crunch while still getting a strong return in a trade. Of course, losing him would be a big blow to their back end so it's safe to say that's not their preferred route at this point.

He's recently been demoted from the 1st pairing to the 2nd, back with Captain Jacob Trouba. But even then if the Rangers were to lose Miller, they'd lose a vital piece on the blueline, who can skate, be physical, and move the puck.

And all-around threat on the ice for the Rangers, and while he didn't have his best season in 2023-2024, he still contributed 30 points( 8 G, 22 A) and 20 even-strength assists, with 117 blocks, and 148 hits.

A verifiable machine on the ice for the Rangers, and it's doubtful that GM Chris Drury would rather trade him away than sign him.

It seems likely that the team would rather him take a friendly deal long-term, rather than ask for more than $6 Million AAV.

The K'Andre Miller projected contract situation has its challenges. Miller is a young defenseman who is coming off a career year. In addition, defensemen have signed hefty contracts this summer. For reference, Damon Severson signed an eight-year contract with an AAV of $6.250. Hampus Lindholm signed an extension last year with an AAV of $6.5 million. Or for a better comparison, Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames. In January of 2020, Andersson signed a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million per season. At the time of the contract, Andersson was just establishing himself in the league. Andersson was showing promise in his two-way game. His offence was there as well as being defensively efficient. The year he signed the contract, Andersson scored five goals and 22 points. Since then, he has eclipsed 50 and 49 points respectively.

Will the Rangers decide to keep Miller around long-term, at a package less or more than $6 Million?