6 Team Linked To Rangers' K'Andre Miller This Off-Season

2 days ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors  /  Read Time: 3 minutes

As the NHL regular season comes to a close, the New York Rangers find themselves in a precarious position. A stunning collapse against the Anaheim Ducks—blowing a 4-2 lead in the final six minutes before losing 5-4 in overtime—was a brutal reminder of the work ahead for GM Chris Drury. His offseason to-do list is long, but near the top is securing defenseman K’Andre Miller to a contract extension.Miller, one of the Rangers’ most promising young players and a key piece on the blue line, is a restricted free agent this summer. While the rising salary cap and the rarity of successful offer sheets make it unlikely he’ll be poached, what if a bold rival GM decides to test the Rangers’ financial limits? With extensions for Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafrenière, and Will Borgen already pushing next season’s cap commitments to around $84 million (per PuckPedia), New York could be vulnerable.Here are six teams that might just have the cap space, the need, and the audacity to pull this off.1. Chicago BlackhawksThe Blackhawks are flush with cap space and desperate for defensive upgrades to support Connor Bedard. While they’re building around young blueliners like Alex Vlasic, Artyom Levshunov, and Kevin Korchinski, adding a 24-year-old two-way force like Miller would accelerate their rebuild. Pairing him with any of their rising stars would give Chicago a formidable, youthful defense—something they haven’t had in years.Potential hurdle: The Rangers would likely match any reasonable offer, but if Chicago goes nuclear with an overpay, Drury might have to make painful cap sacrifices elsewhere.2. Buffalo SabresThe Sabres’ playoff drought is now 14 years long, and GM Kevyn Adams is under pressure to make a splash. Miller would be an ideal partner for Owen Power, bringing stability and physicality to Buffalo’s back end. While the Sabres’ glut of left-handed defensemen - Power, Rasmus Dahlin, Bo Byram, is a logjam, talent is talent—and Miller’s versatility would fit Lindy Ruff’s system perfectly.Potential hurdle: Buffalo doesn’t own its 2026 second-round pick, which could complicate compensation. Still, if Adams is serious about ending the drought, this is the kind of aggressive move that could pay off.3. San Jose SharksThe Sharks are another cap-rich team with a promising young core - Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund. Their defense, however, is still a work in progress. Miller would instantly become their best all-around blueliner, providing a bridge between veterans like Marc-Edouard Vlasic and emerging talents like Shakir Mukhamadullin.Potential hurdle: San Jose has traded away key future picks (including their 2026 third-rounder), which might limit their ability to meet offer-sheet compensation requirements.4. Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus has the lowest cap commitments in the league next season ($53.6M) and a glaring need for defensive upgrades. With Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro hitting free agency, Miller would be a massive addition alongside Zach Werenski. Stealing him from a division rival would be an added bonus.Potential hurdle: The Blue Jackets’ 2026 second-round pick belongs to Montréal (thanks to the Patrik Laine trade), which could derail their offer-sheet plans unless they get creative.5. Calgary FlamesThe Flames need a top-pairing lefty defenseman, and Miller fits the bill. Partnering him with MacKenzie Weegar or Rasmus Andersson would give Calgary a formidable top four. With ample cap space and all their draft picks intact, they have the flexibility to make a serious run at him.Potential hurdle: The Rangers would likely fight hard to keep Miller, but if Calgary overwhelms them with an offer, Drury might have no choice but to let him walk.6. Winnipeg JetsThe Jets are already a Cup contender, but their left-side defense behind Josh Morrissey could use a boost. Adding Miller would make them even deeper and more dangerous, especially if they lose Neal Pionk in free agency.Potential hurdle: Winnipeg is missing its 2026 and 2027 second-round picks, which could complicate compensation. Still, if they’re willing to get creative, Miller could be the final piece to push them over the top.The Bottom LineOffer sheets remain a long shot, but with the Rangers’ cap crunch and Miller’s value, a desperate team could force Drury’s hand. Whether any GM has the guts to pull the trigger is another question—but in a league where bold moves often pay off, don’t rule it out entirely.Rangers fans, consider this your warning. The offseason is coming, and it might get messy.Image - Danny Wild-Imagn...

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