What K’Andre Miller said about joining Carolina Hurricanes after sign-and-trade
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K’Andre Miller joins Hurricanes after eight-year, $60M sign-and-trade deal.
- Miller embraces new role on reshaped defense, possibly playing off-handed side.
- The defenseman cites slower lifestyle, team culture, and coaching as positives.
K’Andre Miller said he recently tried to pull off what’s near impossible for most 25-year-olds: turn off all the social media apps on his phone for a couple of weeks.
There was too much talk about potential trades, NHL free agency and contract extensions. There also was a lot of chatter about the New York Rangers, Miller, and what might happen next for the young defenseman.
What happened was a trade: The Rangers, in a sign-and-trade transaction, sent Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday after Miller first signed an eight-year, $60 million contract.
“There was a lot of noise throughout the season, so it was definitely in the back of my head that something could happen, might happen,” Miller said Wednesday. “There was a lot of speculation and noise and uncertainty with New York. It was good to just kind of decompress and worry about getting stronger and getting my mind right.”
Then came the trade and the new contract that Miller said would be “life-changing.”
“I’m in a good spot now,” he said. “I’m all good.”
Miller has faced the Hurricanes often in his five seasons in the NHL. A year ago, the Rangers and Canes went at it in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers taking the series with a Game 7 win in Raleigh.
So no secrets, not in a hockey sense.
“They have such a fast team,” Miller said. “They get up and down the ice in a fast motion. They do everything as a team.
“It’s a fun team to watch and they’ve had a lot of success recently. I’m excited to join that style of game. It’s going to be so much fun being on the other side.”
It will create something of a lifestyle change for Miller, too. He was raised in Minnesota, played college hockey at Wisconsin and was drafted by the Rangers in the first round in 2018.
After that it was all about New York City and games at Madison Square Garden and the glitz of Broadway. Now, he’s coming to a Southern market and smaller city, but said that appeals to him.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I’m super excited for that aspect. The style of living, and a slower pace in the style of living, I think I’m really going to like that. Being from Minnesota, I think it’s going to be very comparable.”
Miller will be joining a defensive group that has undergone some major changes the past few years. Defensemen Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce left in free agency a year ago, and veterans Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov did the same Tuesday after neither was initially re-signed by the Hurricanes.
Miller, a left-shot D-man, might have to play his off side given the Canes’ glut of left-hand defensemen. No problem, he said.
“I’m comfortable with both,” he said. “It will be a fun challenge for me, a little different.”
At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Miller has both size and speed. He can join the rush and provide some offense, if needed. He can play a rough-and-tumble game if needed.
Canes general manager Eric Tulsky said Tuesday he likes the way Miller protects the front of the net and his toughness in doing it.
Miller said he likes the thought of being in a D corps that includes Jaccob Slavin, one of the league’s best defensemen.
“He’s definitely one of the guys I’ve tried to model my game after the last couple of years and take what he does on the ice and try to replicate it,” Miller said. “He’s obviously a generational player in this league. Being on this team, I think, it’s going to be great sharing ideas and sharing the ice with him.”
Playing for the Rangers against Carolina, Miller had had the chance to glance over at the Canes bench and see the coach, Rod Brind’Amour, at work. Now, he’ll get the chance to play for him.
“I’ve heard nothing but good things about Rod,” Miller said. “I can’t wait to shake his hand and get to know him and talk hockey.
“Others have reached out to say. ‘You’re really lucky to be in this position and have a coach and a team like Carolina supporting you.’”
Of note: Canes bring back Jost
The Canes on Wednesday signed forward Tyson Jost to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay $775,000 on the NHL level or $300,000 in the American Hockey League, with a guarantee of at least $600,000.
Jost, 27, appeared in 39 regular-season games for the Hurricanes in 2024-25 and played 14 games in the AHL with Chicago.
“He’s extremely well-liked and hard-working and capable of playing a number of different roles in the lineup,” Tulsky said.
This story was originally published July 2, 2025 at 12:14 PM.
