Elliotte Friedman Confirms New York Rangers Top Defenseman on the Trade Block

One of the biggest choices the New York Rangers have to make this summer is what to do with defenseman K'Andre Miller. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who is due for a big salary increase.

The Rangers can re-sign him or trade him for what is expected to be a strong return. The key question: Do the Rangers consider Miller a building block for the future, or has five years of inconsistency undermined their faith?

Regardless of whatever their long-term plans are, the Rangers are reported to be doing their diligence by getting a sense of Miller's trade value, with unrestricted free agency still a couple of years away, as per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

That, folks say, means the trade is imminent, but Rangers GM Chris Drury would be remiss not to attempt everything.

If they do keep Miller, the Rangers have two options for courses of action. A short-term deal, presumably two years, gives them more time to evaluate him but risks losing him for nothing in 2027.

Or they can lock him up long term now, maybe five to seven years, although that carries risk based on Miller's see-saw playing.

But the potential is apparent. Miller, taken 22nd overall in 2018, can be a first-pairing defenseman to pair with Adam Fox. But his ceiling is balanced by concerning breakdowns, turnovers, poor reads, and spastic decision-making.

His coaches and front office personnel know him best. They must decide now whether to bet on his potential or trade him before they can no longer do so.