NHL Moves: Rangers and Hurricanes Shake Up the Market
The New York Rangers continue to reshape their roster. On Tuesday night, they finalized a trade that sent experienced defenseman K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes, as announced by both teams. In return, the Hurricanes, rivals in the Metropolitan Division, sent New York first and second-round draft picks from 2026. The first-round pick is protected for the top ten spots and will be the better of Carolina’s or the Dallas Stars’. In the deal, New York also added depth to its defensive line with the inclusion of 22-year-old Scott Morrow, who scored one goal and six points for the Hurricanes last season. Morrow was one of Carolina’s top prospects and had 39 points in 52 AHL games last season. As part of the agreement, Carolina negotiated and secured an eight-year, $60 million contract extension with Miller, who averaged 21 minutes and 56 seconds of playing time last season. The contract will have an average annual value of $7.5 million. Miller, 25, who played college hockey at Wisconsin, was a restricted free agent eligible to receive offers. The Rangers were not ready to commit to Miller long-term and decided to go in a different direction. Miller has 36 goals and 132 points in his NHL career, all with New York. He was a first-round pick of the Rangers in 2018.The Rangers are happy to have additional assets in what is believed to be a strong 2026 draft class, but they are also prepared to move those picks at the deadline if the team is contending. The Rangers have a new head coach, Mike Sullivan. This move continues to give a new look to the Rangers’ defensive line, especially after the club signed veteran Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract earlier in the day. The Rangers expect Gavrikov to play alongside Adam Fox on the first defensive line. Carolina has a star defenseman in Jaccob Slavin, but is remodeling that group with veterans Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov, who are unlikely to return.K’Andre is a defenseman who we believe fits very well with how we play. He is about to reach his prime and we are confident that he will excel in a Hurricanes jersey.
Eric Tulsky, General Manager of the Hurricanes
Also on Tuesday, the Rangers agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Will Cuylle, 23, on a two-year contract extension, the club announced. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes continue to make big moves under Tulsky’s direction. Carolina is trying to break through after continued success in the regular season, including a seven-year playoff streak, including three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Canes were one of the teams that discussed Nikolaj Ehlers, the best remaining free agent, on Tuesday.They have a very fast team. They go up and down the ice at high speed and do it all as a team. They’re a fun group to watch and have had a lot of success recently. So I’m excited to join that style of play, and they have a great team there.
K’Andre Miller
