Player Discussion K'Andre Miller

[McRanger92]

Miller has not been great this year, but I think he's really been hampered by Trouba's play. I took a look at the 5v5 advanced stats for our D pairings, and most of the Miller-Trouba pair's stats (CF%, FF%, xGF%) look pretty good. It's the GF% that is abysmal.

So what does that mean? Are they being plagued by the bad puck luck we're seeing this year? I dug a bit deeper and looked at the GA/60, SCA/60, and HDCA/60. The GA/60 for Miller-Trouba was pretty bad, and I also want to note that Trouba is involved in 3 of the 5 worst GA/60 pairings this year (Trouba with Miller, Jones, and Fox). The SCA/60 for Miller-Trouba were not significantly worse than the other pairs, but the HDCA/60 were terrible. Among all pairings for the Rangers this season with at least 10 minutes of 5v5 TOI, Trouba is involved in the 3 worst in terms of HDCA/60 (again, Miller-Trouba, Fox-Trouba, and Jones-Trouba). We are bleeding high danger chances against whenever Trouba is on the ice with anyone. Miller's numbers in these same stats are incredibly good with Fox, and reasonably good with Schneider, albeit with fewer minutes.

What are the options if you break up Miller and Trouba? Either you have to put Lindgren with him in the hopes that he can stabilize Trouba, or you put him with Hajek and try to shelter his minutes (although that would mean Schneider moves up to play tougher minutes). I would like to see Miller and Fox get an extended look together as a shutdown pairing.

Awesome post. Seems like Trouba being compromised with injury and bad puck luck are making Miller look worse than he’s been. He’s clearly not playing his best yet, but I think some are being overly critical.

 

[SA16]

Miller/Trouba had a higher HDCA60 last year than they do this year. And this year they are generating more high danger scoring chances than they are allowing so it's really not an issue. It's what you want when you have a top goalie.

 

[bl02]

Special player. Trust him with the puck in the o zone to make something good happen and if not his skating ability to cover it up.
Look at all the plays he's made late in games especially in big games vs divisional opponents.
Can we please sign this guy. At least give me 5-6-7 more years of him.

 

[Raspewtin]

on pace for 37 points OwO

 

[bl02]

on pace for 37 points OwO

Kid is just dynamic. Redraft he goes top 3. We finally got a young kid that dominates his draft spot and more!

 

[QJL]

14 points in his last 21 games.

Miller is on pace for 38 even strength points. Only 12 D did that last season. Fox had 39.

Kid is going to get paid.

Edit: nvm I missed a PP assist and 2 SH assists.

 

[Circus86]

On pace for 43 points with no PP time. Incredible stuff. Miller should be locked up for 8 years, but I think we are forced to bridge him because cap reasons.

 

[duhmetreE]

there's no one in the NHL like him.

You can say Hedman but KAMs way more athletic and physically gifted imo.

His potential is limitless

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

f***ing STUD. Future of this team. All the reasons in the world to think he is still getting better every year. Locking him up for 8 years would be a dream.

 

[duhmetreE]

14 points in his last 21 games.

Miller is on pace for 38 even strength points. Only 12 D did that last season. Fox had 39.

Kid is going to get paid.

Edit: nvm I missed a PP assist and 2 SH assists.

Our 'turnaround' started with him.

The Apprentice became the Master.... and started dragging Trouba around

 

[Profet]

I usually hate the d-man stick checks... but Miller is just masterful at it.

 

[eco's bones]

Trouba and Miller game in and out tend to get the toughest assignments. They are bigger, stronger and more physical than Fox and Lindgren. That Trouba has or had been dealing with some kind of injury wouldn't help. He hasn't had nearly as many highlight reel hits this year.

K'Andre's game is just getting better and better. 22 points in half of a season with hardly any power play time. The Rangers also might want to start looking at him as a shootout option. I think last year when one shootout went a bunch of rounds---he got a chance and he won the game. He's really good on breakaways and in close he places his shots right under the bar. Last night was just another example. Defensively his skating and long reach are handy in all situations. I think an argument could be made that he's our second best player after Fox right now.

As well Schneider has been looking really good too. Gallant has been keeping his ice time to about 15 minutes a game though. He's seriously good. Size, skating, physical play, almost never takes penalties, good offensive instincts.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I usually hate the d-man stick checks... but Miller is just masterful at it.

It’s kinda a cheat code honesty lol. His reach is like 8 feet long

 

[LeetchisGod]

We're as good at developing dmen as we are bad at developing forwards. It's insane.

 

[ReddestRum]

I usually hate the d-man stick checks... but Miller is just masterful at it.

His ability to poke across his and the other player's body while skating parallel with them is absolutely insane.

 

[ReddestRum]

Realistically, what are we paying Miller and for how many years?

 

[haveandare]

I usually hate the d-man stick checks... but Miller is just masterful at it.

It helps when your wingspan is half the rink lol

He is such a special player. Really hope we can lock him up long term.

 

[GAGLine]

Realistically, what are we paying Miller and for how many years?

Dobson's contract is the primary comparable. 3 years @ 4 mil.

 

[Ruggs225]

Dobson's contract is the primary comparable. 3 years @ 4 mil.

Very solid comparable. Very solid!

 

[DanielBrassard]

He's been excellent lately, the talent and physical ability is top notch but now he's starting to make reads at a higher level as well as just using his gifts to impose himself on the game more often. It's impressive.

 

[McRanger92]

Human Eraser. We are spoiled with Fox & Miller

 

[bl02]

Dobson's contract is the primary comparable. 3 years @ 4 mil.

somehow the Islanders get amazing value on their dmen contracts...we instead have to pay Trouba 8 million vs 5-6 million.
Dobson is a terrific young player (even if I think K'Andre is more dynamic and skilled). Why can't we just lock him up for 6-7 years (5-5.5 per?).
I would love to see a homegrown kid given a longer term deal that benefits team and player mutually (ok maybe team a bit more).

 

[GAGLine]

somehow the Islanders get amazing value on their dmen contracts...we instead have to pay Trouba 8 million vs 5-6 million.
Dobson is a terrific young player (even if I think K'Andre is more dynamic and skilled). Why can't we just lock him up for 6-7 years (5-5.5 per?).
I would love to see a homegrown kid given a longer term deal that benefits team and player mutually (ok maybe team a bit more).

They are completely different situations. Trouba's contract includes 7 UFA years while Dobson's is all RFA years. Trouba was arbitration eligible and Dobson wasn't. Trouba was coming off a very good year. It was pre-covid/flat cap, and Fox wasn't even a Ranger yet.

As far as locking up Miller long term, it's going to depend on several factors. Every year we add, the AAV will go up, and cap space will be tight. And Miller might not want to sign long term. Why sign a 6-7 year deal for 5.5 mil when he can sign a 2-3 year deal @ 4 mil and then sign a much larger contract after? He might prefer to take the guaranteed money rather than trying to maximize his earnings, but that will be up to him. Drury can offer whatever term he wants, but it won't matter if Miller doesn't sign it. At some point, he's just got to get him signed and worry about the next contract when it happens.

 

[bl02]

They are completely different situations. Trouba's contract includes 7 UFA years while Dobson's is all RFA years. Trouba was arbitration eligible and Dobson wasn't. Trouba was coming off a very good year. It was pre-covid/flat cap, and Fox wasn't even a Ranger yet.

As far as locking up Miller long term, it's going to depend on several factors. Every year we add, the AAV will go up, and cap space will be tight. And Miller might not want to sign long term. Why sign a 6-7 year deal for 5.5 mil when he can sign a 2-3 year deal @ 4 mil and then sign a much larger contract after? He might prefer to take the guaranteed money rather than trying to maximize his earnings, but that will be up to him. Drury can offer whatever term he wants, but it won't matter if Miller doesn't sign it. At some point, he's just got to get him signed and worry about the next contract when it happens.

Not comparing Trouba with Dobson contract rather the rest of their d like Mayfield and Pelech.
I still don't feel Trouba was worth that much money even then (about 2 million overpaid) but I digress.
Totally understand what he may want to take (and none of us know what goes on behind the scenes and K'Andre may want more than 5/5.5 per for a long term deal IDK).
If a 3 year bridge is the only option then fine. Just saying I would like to see him locked up with more term.

 

[QJL]

somehow the Islanders get amazing value on their dmen contracts...we instead have to pay Trouba 8 million vs 5-6 million.
Dobson is a terrific young player (even if I think K'Andre is more dynamic and skilled). Why can't we just lock him up for 6-7 years (5-5.5 per?).
I would love to see a homegrown kid given a longer term deal that benefits team and player mutually (ok maybe team a bit more).

We can definitely lock up Miller at that rate. You just need to accept losing on of Lafreniere, Chytil, or Lindgren to make it work!

He will be bridged to make the money work. It’s unfortunate.