Potential K’Andre Miller trade hangs over Rangers’ NHL draft weekend

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.

K’Andre Miller, who the Rangers could use as a trade piece, Miller is eligible to receive an offer sheet when the free agency window opens Tuesday. James Guillory-Imagn Images

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 identified as a Rangers’ target if the Kings defenseman reaches free agency.

New Kings GM Ken Holland addressed the status of negotiations with the 29-year-old blueliner Wednesday.

“[Ex-general manager] Rob Blake had made an offer, and I went beyond that offer,” Holland told reporters, per the Orange County Register. “And so now we are continuing to talk, and I think I made another offer, so we’ll see.”

Vladislav Gavrikov has been identified as a Rangers’ target if the Kings defenseman reaches free agency. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There is expected to be a significant price tag that comes with Gavrikov, who is expected to command a cap hit of around $7 million-$8 million per on his next deal. The Rangers shipped former captain Jacob Trouba and his $8 million cap hit to the Ducks in December, but already have eaten up the space with extensions for Will Borgen ($4.1 million) and Urho Vaakanainen ($1.55 million), as well as the trade-deadline acquisition of Carson Soucy ($3.25 million).

Restricted free agent forward Will Cuylle still needing a contract must be taken into consideration, as well.

As the winds of change to the back end blow, the odds of Braden Schneider moving to the left have increased significantly.

Schneider slotted onto his off-side 15 times last season, in which the Rangers blue line experienced more movement than it has in recent years on account of injuries and the departures of top-four staples in Trouba and Ryan Lindgren.

On break-up day, the 23-year-old Schneider revealed he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder that had been nagging for about two years.

He was shut down for the final two games of the season, but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

If they don’t make a trade that gets them back into the first round or brings in any more picks, the Rangers will have eight selections — No. 43, No. 70, No. 89, No. 111, No. 139, No. 166, No. 171 and No. 203 — to make this weekend, beginning Saturday with the second round.

Centers are an organizational need, but the Rangers could really go any direction.

Players who could be available by the time the Rangers are on the clock in Round 2 include left wing Jack Murtagh, left-handed defenseman Simon Wang and center Mason West.

The Boston University blood runs thick in the Rangers organization right now, with Drury, new head coach Mike Sullivan, assistants David Quinn and Joe Sacco all alums. Murtagh is not only committed to BU, but he is also a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Wang, also known as Haoxi Wang, is committed to BU for the 2026-27 season, as well, after playing for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League last season.

Scouting reports highlight his transition game and skating ability.

If the Rangers want to go the center route, West is also headed down the NCAA path with a commitment to Michigan State. Matthew Gard out of the Western Hockey League is also a centerman who could be available at No. 43.