The New York Rangers face several key decisions regarding contracts for next year and face a pivotal decision regarding K'Andre Miller's contract that's set to expire at the end of the year.![New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller #nhl #rangers]()
Over the past season, there has been an open debate on whether the Rangers should pay Miller the money he's looking for or do the Rangers trade his rights to another organization if a deal cant be done as Miller is set to become a restricted free agent with two more seasons of team control?
Miller working at tuning out noise for his future with the Rangers
Miller feels that he is working hard to try to improve his game and help the Rangers get into the playoffs as the team remains just outside of the wild card.
K'Andre Miller has become a frequent target of criticism from fans, with some fair and some over the top. He's got a tantalizing skill set but hasn't put it all together consistently. I chatted with the pending RFA about the coming fork in the road
"I've done a pretty good job of just putting it on the back burner for this year," Miller said. "I'm just worrying about getting better every day, pushing my teammates to be better, and really demanding the best out of myself. When the contract comes, it comes." K'Andre Miller
Rangers general manager Chris Drury has made several changes to his team over the past season.
He's created some roster certainty by signing Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen to extensions and trading for Carson Soucy, who has one season remaining on his contract, but none of them profile as top-pair fixtures. The Rangers must secure at least one more needle-moving defenseman to revive a D corps that's taken steps back in recent seasons. Vincent Z Mercogliano
Landscape changing with salary cap rise for future deals
The NHL's landscape has changed dramatically since the league announced that their salary cap will rise significantly over the coming seasons. Several players have been waiting to hear this news as they haven't signed a new contract up until recently.
The Rangers will be patient and evaluate their roster to see whether defensemen
like Miller will garner the contract he is looking for.
like Miller will garner the contract he is looking for.
The unrestricted free-agent market is limited, especially after Washington re-upped Jakob Chychrun on an eight-year, $72 million deal this week. The Rangers wouldn't have been able to swing that kind of deal anyway, but would they go to the necessary lengths to reel in the next-best UFA choices in Vladislav Gavrikov or Ivan Provorov? The former is four years older than Miller and the latter three, and both will likely cost more. Vincent Z Mercogliano
In the long run, the decision is in Drury's hands as the team will need to make their decision soon and see whether Miller will remain with the Rangers or be on his way to another organization.
Source: Lohud
Hold or sell? NY Rangers, K'Andre Miller are reaching a crossroads in contract year
Hold or sell? NY Rangers, K'Andre Miller are reaching a crossroads in contract year
