Brooks K'Andre Miller's Rangers Rise Has Been Indispensable

[Phil]

Quote

1. You start with Igor Shesterkin’s superlative goaltending through the first five months of the season because there is really nowhere else to begin.

 

But K’Andre Miller’s dramatic ascension in his second year of professional hockey has perhaps represented the second most important development of the season.

 

That is because in conjunction with the stout work on the right from Jacob Trouba — who has been precisely what the past regime’s hierarchy envisioned when trading for him in 2019 and then granting him a seven-year, $56 million contract — the Rangers have an alternate matchup pair on which to rely.

 

Quote

Fox may or may not be fatigued and he may or may not benefit from resting a game or two, but he has not been overworked. Indeed, he is 51st in even-strength time, at 18:52 per, and Trouba is 38th, at 19:11 per. Since the Blueshirts came out of the break 28 games ago, Miller leads the club in five-on-five ice time at 18:36 per, with Trouba at 18:08 and Fox at 17:29.

 

Miller’s confidence with the puck and his offensive attributes are meshing well with his improved rush reads and his ability to use his body and long reach to defend down low and win battles. His skating ability allows him to track back after leading or joining the rush. His poise both on and off the ice is striking. There is surely a power-play role in his future.

 

There is obviously a ways to go with this 6-foot-5, 22-year-old, but Miller should be no less than a top-four staple for years.

 

https://nypost.com/2022/04/14/kandre-millers-rangers-rise-has-been-indispensable/

[siddious]

Miller started the year in the pooper but he’s been arguably this teams best defensive defenseman with fox not being fox. 
 

Also gallant should just rest fox the rest of the year

[-ERIK-]

There was talk of him needing AHL time earlier

His poise with the puck and those flashes of brilliance on rushes have been great to see

[Kevin]

He’s been great. Someone said earlier like a young Marc Staal (defensively) which I totally agree with. Better yet, he’s providing some offense which Staal never did. Hedman lite.

Edited April 17, 2022 by Kevin

[Phil]

2 hours ago, Kevin said:

He’s been great. Someone said earlier like a young Marc Staal (defensively) which I totally agree with. Better yet, he’s providing some offense which Staal never did. Hedman lite.

 

Right here. Said it in camp. He strikes me so much as a modern J-Bo/young Staal (who could still wheel).

[BrooksBurner]

Miller has developed real nicely in a short period of time. He was a disaster positionally for the first couple of months but has gotten significantly better. He’s the total package.

[Pete]

He started out being noticeable for all the wrong reasons, and now for all the right ones. 

[jsm7302]

Love this kid. Our blueline looks pretty damn good for the foreseeable future.

[Sharpshooter]

As bad as he looked (and he was bad), you have to be patient with defensemen. They can take time to develop and everyone develops differently. Having said that, he's just 25 now, looking great and exudes confidence. 

[Valriera]

Also helps to play next to who has to be one of the most underrated defenseman in the league this year in trouba. Guy has been arguably better than fox all season

 

staying on topic I just love to see miller using his tools this year which are his size and skating, to out position the opponent in all three zones. 

[Ozzy]

I've been really amazed at his progress this year.  I love this kid back there!!  He's been playing a bit more physical as well, adding to that great use of his stick on D.

[4EverRangerFrank]

I, too, see his great development this season but have to LOL our collective thoughts here. 
 

We went from, “Look at that cow.” to wearing beer glasses, “Yeah, I’d bang that. Sure!”

[Long live the King]

12 hours ago, Sharpshooter said:

As bad as he looked (and he was bad), you have to be patient with defensemen. They can take time to develop and everyone develops differently. Having said that, he's just 25 now, looking great and exudes confidence. 

 

He's 22.

 

Miller has played Lindgren off the team.

[RangersIn7]

Amazing what happens when you have a top prospect with first round pedigree and a high-end ceiling and you just play him and stick with him. 

[LindG1000]

3 hours ago, 4EverRangerFrank said:

I, too, see his great development this season but have to LOL our collective thoughts here. 
 

We went from, “Look at that cow.” to wearing beer glasses, “Yeah, I’d bang that. Sure!”

Cow hit the gym hard, man. 

[CBrowningPI]

7 hours ago, Long live the King said:

 

He's 22.

 

Miller has played Lindgren off the team.

Lindgrens play allows Fox to be Fox. Fox has 30 hits to Lindgrens 124 hits. Lindgren is a +18 to Fox +14. And that's with the power play boosting Foxs #s. Lindgren isn't going anywhere.

[siddious]

Pp doesn’t affect +/- 

[Long live the King]

1 hour ago, CBrowningPI said:

Lindgrens play allows Fox to be Fox. Fox has 30 hits to Lindgrens 124 hits. Lindgren is a +18 to Fox +14. And that's with the power play boosting Foxs #s. Lindgren isn't going anywhere.

 

That's great.  Not sure what the power play has to do with Fox's hits or +/-, but this is a cap issue.

 

None of that above stuff does anything to create the cap space to pay Miller, and the year after you have to pay Miller, Lindgren is due a raise.  

[Pete]

11 hours ago, Long live the King said:

Lindgren is due a raise

He's due a new contract in 2 seasons. That doesn't mean Miller played him off the team today. That's a wild overstatement. 

[Long live the King]

Really in one season as nothing is changing this year.  Next year is Lindgren's last year here at most, although with the tight cap next year I could see them moving him in the offseason.  

[NEKRanger]

On 4/17/2022 at 10:54 PM, Valriera said:

Also helps to play next to who has to be one of the most underrated defenseman in the league this year in trouba. Guy has been arguably better than fox all season

 

staying on topic I just love to see miller using his tools this year which are his size and skating, to out position the opponent in all three zones. 

Interesting since Trouba is having his best year as a Ranger this season.   How much is Trouba and his improvement helping Miller and, maybe a little bit, is Miller's maturation benefiting Trouba as well?

[Pete]

22 hours ago, Long live the King said:

Really in one season as nothing is changing this year.  Next year is Lindgren's last year here at most, although with the tight cap next year I could see them moving him in the offseason.  

I don't. Because you still need to find a partner for Fox who makes less than Lindgren and it ain't Zac Jones. Maybe it's Schneider on the left.

 

Would be silly IMO to move Miller away from Trouba.

Edited April 20, 2022 by Pete

[RJWantsTheCup]

Miller had a couple of poor plays last night, but Shesterkin bailed him out with big saves.

Miller is still learning the position, he's going to have his ups and downs, but he's already come a long way.