Having spent five seasons with the New York Rangers, K`Andre Miller kept his phone off and stayed away from social media recently due to uncertainty surrounding his future.
Now, he is enthusiastic about joining the Carolina Hurricanes` aggressive style of play.
The Hurricanes strengthened their defense by acquiring the 25-year-old defenseman, a former first-round draft pick, and signed him to a long-term contract on Tuesday, the start of free agency. He joins a team that has reached the playoffs for seven consecutive years and recently appeared in the Eastern Conference Final for the third time during that period.
While Carolina features prominent defenseman Jaccob Slavin, the team is restructuring its defensive corps as veterans Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov are not expected to return. This adjustment involved trading away promising prospect Scott Morrow, who had stepped up in the playoffs due to injuries, and draft picks to the Rangers to acquire Miller.
“They are a very fast team,” Miller commented during a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday. “They move up and down the ice quickly and operate cohesively as a team. It’s exciting to watch their success, and I am eager to become part of their playing style; they have a fantastic team.”
The Hurricanes believe the six-foot-five, 210-pound Miller is well-suited for their system due to his size and skating. They anticipate he will enhance their strategy, which focuses on an aggressive forecheck to pressure opponents, gain possession, and sustain pressure in the offensive zone.
Indicating their belief in Miller`s potential for continued improvement, the Hurricanes signed him to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million, running through the 2032-33 season.
He showed glimpses of this potential during his time with the Rangers, a frequent rival of the Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division. The 22nd overall pick in the 2018 draft has played at least 74 regular-season games in each of the last four seasons, accumulating 17 goals and 56 assists for a total of 73 points during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
However, his performance saw a drop last season, making him appear less essential to the Rangers. This happened as New York experienced a decline overall.
Following the season, Miller attempted to disregard the “speculation, noise, and uncertainty surrounding his situation in New York.” He focused instead on physical training and mental preparation for his next step.
And now, he embraces a fresh beginning.
“I believe there was significant noise throughout the season,” Miller stated. “It was certainly on my mind that something might happen. While I cherished my time in New York, I am looking forward to what lies ahead in Carolina.”