The Carolina Hurricanes announced Tuesday they’ve acquired defenseman K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers in a sign-and-trade deal.
Miller, who was a restricted free agent, signed an eight-year contract with a $7.5 million cap hit as part of the trade.
The Rangers are getting a conditional first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and defenseman Scott Morrow in return. The conditions for the first-round pick are complex, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston:
Carolina has two 2026 first-round picks: CAR and DAL.
** If both outside the top-10, NYR receives better of the two.
** If one pick is in top-10 and the other is not, NYR receives lesser of the picks
** If both picks are inside the top-10, NYR receives better CAR/DAL 2027 1st
The Hurricanes considered making an offer sheet to Miller before the teams agreed on the trade, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.
Miller put up seven goals and 27 points in 74 games last season. The 6-foot-5 defender has logged over 21 minutes per game in four of his five NHL seasons. He hit a career-high 21:57 this past year.
He ranked second on the Rangers with 110 blocked shots.
The 25-year-old has scored 36 goals and 132 points in 368 career games over five seasons in New York. The Rangers selected Miller 22nd overall in 2018.
Carolina now has $19 million in cap space after the trade. Two top-four defenders from last season’s blue line – Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns – remain unsigned.
However, prospect Alexander Nikishin is expected to become a full-time player in 2025-26. He joined the Hurricanes late last season after six years in the KHL.
Rangers Fill The Gap
New York signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract Tuesday. That move essentially replaces Miller on the left side of the blue line.
The Rangers also re-signed restricted free agent winger Will Cuylle to a two-year, $7.8 million deal. They’re left with $1.4 million in cap space.
Morrow is a 6-foot-2, right-shot defenseman who was Carolina’s second-round pick in 2021.
The 22-year-old scored 39 points in 52 AHL games this past season. He’s collected one goal and five assists in 16 career NHL appearances.
His path to NHL playing time might be blocked with Adam Fox, Will Borgen, and Braden Schneider making up the right side of New York’s blue line.
