The New York Rangers raised eyebrows when they traded up to draft defenseman K’Andre Miller in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. So far, he’s proving to be worth the price.
Back at the 2018 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers made a big splash with three first-round picks. Not only did they draft Vitaly Kravtsov, who might be coming to North America soon, they also traded up to draft defenseman K’Andre Miller. He was a risky prospect for sure, but the Rangers saw his upside and went with it. Miller has since done nothing but prove why they were so quick to pounce on him.
Among freshman defensemen, he has stood out for all the right reasons. On his team, Miller finished the 2018-19 season second among defensemen, trailing only Philadelphia Flyers prospect Wyatt Kalynuk.
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Despite their 14-18-5 record, he emerged as a huge bright spot for them. Miller finished the season with 22 points in 26 games, which is the most for any freshman defenseman and the fifth-most among all freshmen.
His numbers compare favorably to a number of NHL defensemen. Miller has impressive size at 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, but he’s also one of the best skaters among his peers. His offensive upside hasn’t fully shown yet, but it’s definitely encouraging he averaged nearly a point per game as a freshman.
The knock on him has always been about his consistency. Miller’s not quite NHL ready yet, but Rangers fans have to be encouraged by how he’s played. He started off with sheltered minutes, but quickly became one of the Wisconsin Badgers’ most trusted defensemen.
In today’s modern NHL, you need as many defensemen who are comfortable with the puck as possible. Miller’s made huge strides there, which is a very promising sign. A lot of freshman defensemen tend to struggle. This has not been the case at all with Miller.
Now, there are still some things he needs to work on. Miller needs to work on getting even more involved on offense because that’s where he shines. Of course, he’ll need to get fully healthy, as he missed time thanks to an ugly collision in February.
The Rangers loved Miller’s raw potential and immense upside. He has things he needs to work on, but it’s hard to imagine how his freshman year could have gone any better. Miller likely needs at least another year in college, but for a team who is desperate for young defensemen, he should be arriving sooner than originally anticipated.