Insider Calls K'Andre Miller Trade Rumors 'More Than Smoke, There's Absolute Fire'

K'Andre Miller trade rumors heating up as he approaches RFA status on July 1

There are a few names circulating around the New York Rangers as trade candidates this summer. Players like Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere, for instance, have some buzz around them, but according to insider Frank Seravalli, speaking on Daily Faceoff's Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast on Tuesday, it's much more than that when it comes to defenseman K'Andre Miller.

There's more than smoke, it's absolute fire when it comes to K'Andre Miller. They are looking to reshape their defence corps.

A restricted free agent, Miller's days in the Big Apple are almost certainly coming to an end. And if it wasn't already the case going into the offseason, the hiring of their new head coach, Mike Sullivan, is likely the final nail in the coffin for Miller in New York, per Seravalli.

My understanding was that Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh wasn't a huge fan of K'Andre Miller's game. So I think that probably further enforces or supports the idea that Miller is going to be on the move.

The time is now for the Rangers to make a move, with potential offer sheets pending as of July 1. Miller has to be signed to a new deal, one way or the other, and he does have arbitration rights this summer. He is coming off a two-year bridge deal with a $3.87 million cap hit.

The 6'5" Miller has an intriguing two-way skillset, with his strong skating, offensive potential matched with his physicality and ability to block shots. But he just hasn't yet shown the consistency the Rangers had hoped for at this point in his career, leading to their questioning of his role with the team moving forward.

Trade or offer sheet coming for K'Andre Miller

And while the Blueshirts certainly aren't ready to commit to him long-term, there seem to be other teams out there ready to pounce on him with an offer sheet or a trade. We heard recently that there is significant interest in Miller.

AFP Analytics projects the big D-man with being able to command a six-year deal with a $6M AAV, or a shorter-term deal (or one year at $4.6M). In that price range, New York would receive a first- and a third-round pick as compensation from any signing team in an Offer Sheet situation. If they feel they can get a better return than that, they need to act within the next two weeks.

Picking up on Seravalli's reference, trade talks are obviously heating up to a red-hot pace.