Following their second appearance in the Eastern Conference Final in three seasons, the Carolina Hurricanes have significantly bolstered their roster. They announced on Tuesday the acquisition of defenceman K`Andre Miller in a trade with the New York Rangers.
In the transaction, the Rangers received a conditional first-round draft pick in 2026, a second-round pick also in 2026, and defenceman Scott Morrow. In exchange, the Hurricanes acquired Miller, who was a restricted free agent at the time. Immediately after the trade, Miller signed an eight-year contract with Carolina carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million.
Reports indicate that the two teams finalized this sign-and-trade agreement after the Hurricanes had previously shown interest in signing Miller via an offer sheet.
Miller recently finished his fourth professional season with the Rangers. In 74 games last season, he registered 27 points, scoring seven goals and assisting on 20 others. The 25-year-old defenceman had his most productive season in 2022-23, where he tallied 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) over 79 games.
Miller became a player the Rangers could afford to move after they secured former Los Angeles Kings blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov on a seven-year contract worth $49 million. Gavrikov is anticipated to slot into New York`s top defensive pairing alongside Adam Fox.
Let`s examine the specifics of the trade and how K`Andre Miller fits into the Carolina Hurricanes` defensive corps.
The Trade Details
Hurricanes Receive:
- K`Andre Miller (Defenceman)
Rangers Receive:
- Conditional 2026 first-round pick (top 10 protected)
- 2026 second-round pick
- Scott Morrow (Defenceman)
Trade Grades
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes were expected to make significant changes on their defence, especially with Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns becoming unrestricted free agents this past Tuesday. By acquiring Miller, Carolina made a substantial addition to their blueline rotation and lowered its average age.
Although Miller`s performance saw a dip over the last two seasons, the 25-year-old defenceman still possesses considerable potential. He is just entering the prime years of his career and arrives in Carolina without significant wear and tear on his body.
Miller is known as a two-way defenceman with strong skating ability and a powerful shot. He is not hesitant to join the offensive rush and direct pucks towards the net. While he hasn`t yet achieved a double-digit goal season, that potential exists for the future.
A key advantage for Miller in Carolina is that he won`t be immediately pressured into a top pairing role. The Hurricanes already boast one of the league`s premier defencemen in Jaccob Slavin on the left side. Miller is likely to be slotted into the team`s second pairing, possibly alongside Jalen Chatfield or Shayne Gostisbehere.
Carolina is betting that Miller can recapture the form he showed before the 2023-24 season. This represents a degree of risk, particularly with his $7.5 million annual salary cap hit. The upside for Miller to become a dominant player again is definitely present, but it`s something that will need to be proven on the ice. Grade: B-
New York Rangers
The Rangers are coming off a season where they missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years. Consequently, General Manager Chris Drury has been looking to make adjustments to the team`s composition.
After setting a career high with 43 points in 2022-23, Miller`s production decreased, totaling just 57 points over the subsequent two seasons combined. New York was reportedly uncomfortable committing to a long-term contract with Miller, which ultimately led to Tuesday`s trade.
Scott Morrow is the primary player asset the Rangers acquired in this transaction. Morrow has limited NHL experience, with just 16 games played, 14 of which came during the 2024-25 season. He was projected as a third-pairing defenceman within the Hurricanes organization and would likely occupy a similar spot in New York, depending on the team`s other offseason moves.
Morrow is a right-handed shot known for being an above-average skater and having solid offensive instincts. At minimum, the Rangers secured a depth defenceman in return for Miller`s services.
Regarding the draft picks, acquiring a first and a second-round selection for a player who didn`t fit into the team`s future plans is a respectable return. While it`s impossible to fully evaluate a trade involving draft picks until the players are selected and develop, this package certainly appears solid for the Rangers. Grade: B+
