K’Andre Miller trying to stay confident despite stalled Rangers production
DENVER — Coming up through the U.S. National Team Development Program and the University of Wisconsin, K’Andre Miller was lauded as a true two-way defenseman.
Because of Miller’s notable athleticism, his skating abilities and the fact he started his hockey career as a forward, the Minnesota native always has had tantalizing potential in his offensive game.
This season, his fifth with the Rangers, hasn’t been the smoothest for Miller on either side of the puck.
There has been regression on defense, but his lack of production seems to cut even deeper.
Generating and creating offense appears to be a major source of confidence for the 24-year-old blueliner.
“Obviously, I mean, I’d like to be producing a little bit more than I am and contributing in that way,” Miller told The Post Monday after Rangers practice at the University of Denver. “But, you know, just trying to come to the rink right now with a smile on my face, push my teammates to be better and hold myself to the standard that I know I can come and play every night at.”
Entering Tuesday night’s game against the Avalanche, Miller had just two goals and five assists with a minus-five rating through 39 games.
To put it in perspective: Last season, Miller already had seven goals and nine assists with a plus-five rating over the same span.
This correlation between his overall game and production has dated back to earlier in his career, too.
During the 2022-23 season, Miller alluded to the weight of still searching for his first goal of the season in early December.
He ultimately didn’t score until Game 27 of 82, on Dec. 5 against the Blues, a game-tying score in the third period of an eventual 6-4 Rangers win.
The Rangers’ defensive collapse as a team through that concerning 4-15 stretch to finish 2024 did not fall on Miller alone, but he was complicit.
There were serious questions about the Blueshirts’ defensive approach and the abundance of costly lapses that occurred within it.
Miller had his fair share, the most recent leading to the Stars’ game-tying goal before their 5-4 overtime win at the Garden last week.
Despite being in complete control of the puck, Miller lost it as a forechecking Sam Steel charged to disrupt a pass attempt behind the Rangers net. He fed Thomas Harley to make it 4-4 at the 17:21 mark of the third period.
Aside from that, Miller has forged a solid pairing with Will Borgen since Dec. 28, which was just four games into the fellow Minnesotan’s Rangers tenure after the Kaapo Kakko trade with Seattle.
“Tremendously,” Miller said when asked if it’s a good fit with Borgen. “I feel like I’ve been kind of trying to find my game, obviously, this year. I think even the last couple of games have been a step in the right direction for myself and I just feel more confident out there right now. In a good head space. Things are going good.”
In 128:35 of ice time so far, according to Natural Stat Trick, Miller and Borgen have been on for eight Rangers goals and six against. Additionally, they’ve posted a goals-for percentage of 57.14, while also out-chancing opponents 65-56.
Borgen described Miller as a “solid player all around,” noting the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder’s speed and ability to break out pucks. He also commended Miller for his communication on the ice, as well.
“They take tough starts, they take top players,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of the pairing. “They’re both big. They can skate. I think they’ve done a really good job together. The pairs seem to be getting stronger as they get a little more accustomed to each other. I think that they’ve been really good, but the pairings have been good, as well.”
