Potential KAndre Miller trade hangs over Rangers NHL draft weekend

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.The Rangers ensured they were equipped with more flexibility than they started the summer with heading into Round 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday in Los Angeles.That seemed to be the early goal of the offseason as Blueshirts president and general manager Chris Drury set out to rectify the disaster that was last season and, in the process, change the chemistry of the locker room.Now that Drury opened up some cap space by trading Chris Kreider to Anaheim and decided to send this year’s 12th pick to Pittsburgh to complete the J.T.

Miller trade — instead of deferring the transfer to 2026 — the rest of the Rangers’ offseason plans hinge on restricted free agent K’Andre Miller.It’s become increasingly clear the Rangers aren’t willing to commit to Miller long term.That classifies the 25-year-old defenseman as one of the organization’s top trade chips as it heads into a weekend that is sure to be filled with plenty of action around the NHL.Whether Drury can fetch a first-rounder for Miller is yet to be seen, as is whether the Rangers’ head honcho believes a Round 1 selection would be worth it in this draft class.Miller is eligible to receive an offer sheet when the free agency window opens Tuesday, which could become a factor in the Rangers’ timeline.It would presumably come in at around five years between $6 million and $7.021 million per.If that were the case, the Rangers would receive first- and third-round picks in what is projected to be a much deeper 2026 draft.

Drury might be OK with such compensation depending on how he has seen other teams value Miller this offseason.After two down years that were punctuated by an abundance of turnovers last season, Miller’s market value is arguably at its lowest since the Minnesota native was drafted 22nd by the Rangers in 2018.Vladislav Gavrikov has been id...