5 Trade Landing Spots for K'Andre Miller amid NHL Rumors
After the New York Rangers missed the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's clear they need to make changes this offseason. Overhauling their defense needs to be high on that list, even though they already have five players under contract for the 2025-26 season. Once you get beyond Adam Fox, it is a rather uninspiring group.
K'Andre Miller is one of the more intriguing players on the defense, not only because he has shown the ability to be a bona fide top-four defenseman in the NHL, but also because he is still only 25 years old and has the type of mobility and puck skills that so many players on their defense are lacking.
Despite that, his name is still surfacing in trade rumors as he heads into restricted free agency this summer.
The Rangers are reportedly "testing the market" on Miller, per the 32 Thoughts podcast.
From a hockey standpoint, it may not be the most sensible move. The Rangers need players who have Miller's skill set, and it might be difficult to get a trade offer that is worth dealing him and makes them better.
But as long as they are testing the market, and as long as his future remains uncertain as a potential restricted free agent, we should at least take a look at some potential landing spots and teams that could (or should) be interested in him.
Los Angeles Kings
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After a fourth consecutive first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers, it is pretty clear the Kings are still quite a bit away from being a championship team. Yeah, Edmonton is good, but if you are going to be a championship-level team, you need to beat other championship-level teams at some point.
The Kings are not quite there and still have some big work to do.
While they need a bit more finishing ability offensively, they could also use a little extra help on the left side of their defense.
Mikey Anderson and Joel Edmundson are the only two left-handed defenseman under contract for this season, and Edmundson should not be playing in a top-four role.
With Vladislav Gavrikov likely to leave in free agency, there is going to be a potential opening for an upgrade.
Miller could help fill that, while also giving them a younger player who still has some untapped potential that could make him a long-term option.
He might not be enough on his own to close the gap between them and the Oilers, but he could be a good starting point for the offseason.
Detroit Red Wings
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The pressure has to be on the Red Wings to make the playoffs this season, and if they are going to do that, they need to make some serious improvements to their five-on-five play and their defense.
The Red Wings finished the 2024-25 season 15th in goals against per 60 minutes, 26th in goals scored percentage, 22nd in expected goals against and 24th in expected goals share. Those are absolutely ghastly numbers and are very similar to what they have done over the past few years. Until those areas improve, the wins are not going to increase.
Fixing the defense has to be a priority.
The left side of their defense consists of Simon Edvinsson, Ben Chiarot and Erik Gustafsson. While Edvinsson is one of their best young players and should be a key building block, the depth chart on the left side after him is a major problem. Especially as it relates to Chiarot, a free-agency signing from a couple of years ago who simply has not worked out.
Given how weak this year's free-agency crop is on defense, a trade is probably the best option for the Red Wings—and any team—to upgrade their defense. Miller would be an intriguing target who could not only be a short-term upgrade, but also still be at an age where he could fit in with the Red Wings' current core and continue to grow with it.
Seattle Kraken
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Things have not gone smoothly for the Seattle Kraken since entering the NHL. They have made the playoffs just one time in four years, are going to be on their third head coach going into year five and have been guilty of some terrible asset and salary-cap management.
They not only have a poor record in the standings, their process is also bad. They need help everywhere.
The left side of their defense consists of Vince Dunn, Jamie Oleksiak and Josh Mahura. While Dunn is a tremendous player when healthy (and one of the few roster moves that has actually worked out in Seattle), he has missed extensive time in recent seasons and they do not have much impactful depth behind him.
They have some salary-cap flexibility; they have a need; and they have plenty of draft capital over the next few years.
Miller could arrive in Seattle and immediately be one of its best all-around defensemen and bring some much-needed mobility and offensive upside.
Calgary Flames
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The Flames exceeded pretty much every preseason expectation in 2024-25 and made a serious push at a playoff spot, falling just short at the end of the regular season. There is still some question as to what they are and where they are as an organization.
Rebuilding? Still trying to compete? Maybe a mix of both?
Whatever that might end up being, they still need some help on the left side of their defense where the depth chart is a bit of a black hole. There is also a chance they could move veteran defenseman Rasmus Andersson as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract.
Whether they have visions of the playoffs this season, or still trying to build for the future, Miller could help in both timelines given his age. The Flames have multiple first-round picks this year in the back half of the draft, as well as their own second-round pick.
Beyond MacKenzie Weegar and Andersson, there was not much offense to speak of from the Flames defense.
Even though Miller's overall point totals were not great (27 total points in 74 games), he still has the potential and ability for more and could excel with a fresh start. Of the 214 defenders who logged at least 500 minutes of five-on-five ice time this past season, Miller ranked 50th by being on the ice for 2.78 goals per 60 minutes and 72nd while being on the ice for 2.58 expected goals for per 60 minutes. No Flames defensemen topped either number.
San Jose Sharks
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The San Jose Sharks have one of the NHL's best young players in Macklin Celebrini and an emerging core of young talent at forward. They will be adding to that in the draft with another top-two pick. What they need now is more help on defense and some legitimate NHL talent to start taking major steps back toward respectability.
They do not have a single defenseman under contract beyond the 2025-26 season and do not have any potential impact defensemen in the short-term. There is a need. A major need.
They also have more salary-cap space than just about any other team in the NHL and have multiple picks in the first two rounds of the next two draft classes.
The Sharks need to be in the market for defensive upgrades—especially upgrades that could be in San Jose for a few years—and have both the money and trade resources to make a play for somebody like Miller. They have an emerging superstar. Now they have to start building around him. Quickly.
