Former New York Rangers GM brutally destroys K'Andre Miller and his latest contract
The New York Rangers completed a trade that sent former 1st-round pick K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes for Scott Morrow and two draft picks. He'd be richly rewarded with a $60 million contract, which for former Rangers GM Neil Smith would cause him to make a controversial joke about it.
The New York Rangers have continued to redesign the lineup in a manner that will hopefully win them a Stanley Cup in the future. For K'Andre Miller, sending him to Carolina rewarded him with a nice, $60 million deal.
The move wasn't met with derision from the fans or sadness, as it appears he fell out of favor in his last season in New York. Now, he'll get a fresh start in the Metropolitan Division.
Neil Smith, a former GM for the New York Rangers and hockey executive, on a recent episode of the Wraparound Podcast, wasn't shy to quip on the latest situation in Carolina.
But my goodness, Elliotte, these guys, like I've seen K Andre Miller play since he got there (in New York),» Smith ranted. «If he's a $7 million defenseman, you know, I'm a $10 million podcaster.»
Smith didn't pull any punches with that tinge of sarcasm there.
Which is kind of uncharitable for Miller, as he's had one season that could be considered a down year for the top-four defenseman.
Now, he's in an organization that is thrilled to have him and has been considered a perfect fit with Rod Brind'Amour's schemes.
While Elliotte Friedman, maybe even less charitable with the narrative "right-time, right place". Which isn't exactly untrue, but for the defenseman he's ragging on, including Evan Bouchard, they aren't terrible players!
«benefitted from being free at the right time, and there just wasn't a lot of players available.»
Bouchard would make bank with a $10.5 million AAV deal from GM Stan Bowman, while defenseman Noah Dobson would sign a $9.5 million AAV deal with the Montreal Canadiens.
While Miller is neither of those defenseman, and arguably not that caliber--yet, he still has room to grow.
Last season with the Rangers, he scored 27 points (7-20) and a regular pairing with Adam Fox and Will Borgen.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 12 | 237 ANSWERS Former New York Rangers GM brutally destroys K'Andre Miller and his latest contract Do you think the Carolina Hurricanes overpaid defenseman K'Andre Miller? | ||
| Yes | 202 | 85.2 % |
| No | 35 | 14.8 % |
| List of polls | ||