The Carolina Hurricanes were very busy on the first day of free agency.
First, they extended Logan Stankoven for another eight years, after this coming season. The payout will be a total of $48 million.
The team also made a couple of minor signings but the big acquisition was K’Andre Miller.
After the Rangers signed free agent defenseman, Vladislav Gavrikov, the Hurricanes saw an opportunity.
They gave up a lot, a conditional first round pick, a second rounder, and Scott Morrow. They agreed to the amount of $60 million over eight years, ($7.5 million AAV).
But apparently, Miller was a player the Canes had coveted for a while.
During the post day press conference, Eric Tulsky said that his pro scouting staff really liked this player.
“He is a big player who uses his stick well, can block shots, and gets physical,” said Tulsky.
The numbers seem to back up the general manager as Miller’s career 82 game averages are 112 blocks and 147 hits per season.
These two stats combined are better than any other blueliner with Carolina right now.
Slavin – 137 blocks 48 hits
Chatfield – 66 blocks 76 hits
Walker – 109 blocks 96 hits
Ghost – 66 blocks 41 hits
Former Canes:
Burns last season – 98 blocks 11 hits
Orlov last season – 60 blocks 91 hits
The blueliner averages over 21 minutes of ice time a night.
A lot will depend upon team chemistry and how quickly Miller will adapt to Carolina’s system, but Tulsky is confident the defenseman will be successful.
Speaking of Burns and Orlov, the GM said they most likely will not be returning. Neither was signed yet on day one of free agency.
The signing gives Carolina a majority of lefties on the blueline. I asked Tulsky if there were any concerns about some players needing to play of their offside.
He mentioned that Slavin and others had played on their offside before and they did not perceive any issues with it.
Tulsky spoke to Miller on the phone and the player sounded excited to be coming to Carolina. He will be on a Zoom interview tomorrow morning.
Poll
Are you happy with the K’Andre Miller acquisition?
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The team’s official release is next:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 1, 2025
‘CANES ACQUIRE K’ANDRE MILLER FROM RANGERS
Defenseman agrees to eight-year contract with Carolina
RALEIGH, NC – Eric Tulsky, General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired defenseman K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Scott Morrow, a conditional first-round draft pick and Carolina’s 2026 second-round draft selection. In addition, the Hurricanes and Miller have agreed to an eight-year contract, which will pay Miller an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $7.5 million through the 2032-33 season.
“K’Andre is a defenseman who we feel is a very strong fit for the way we play,” said Tulsky. ”He is just approaching his prime and we are confident that he will excel in a Hurricanes sweater.”
Miller, 25, completed his fifth NHL season with the Rangers in 2024-25, totaling seven goals and 20 assists (27 points) in 74 games. The St. Paul, MN, native ranked first among Rangers defensemen and 10th among NHL defensemen in takeaways (47) and was second among Rangers defensemen in hits (107) and blocked shots (110). Originally selected by the Rangers in the first round, 22nd overall, at the 2018 NHL Draft, Miller has appeared in 368 career NHL games, registering 132 points (36g, 96a) and a plus-49 rating. The 6’5”, 210-pound defenseman earned career highs in goals (9), assists (34) and points (43) during the 2022-23 season, and was a career-best plus-23 in 2021-22. Miller was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2020-21, after totaling 12 points (5g, 7a) and a plus-9 rating in 53 games during the 56-game NHL season.
Prior to turning professional, Miller spent two seasons at the University of Wisconsin, totaling 40 points (12g, 28a) in 62 games, and earning B1G All-Rookie Team honors in 2018-19 after earning 22 points (5g, 17a) during his freshman year with the Badgers. Miller also spent two seasons with the United States National Team Development Program, and has appeared in a number of international competitions, winning silver at the 2018 World U18 Championship and the 2019 World U20 Championship.