The New York Rangers selected K'Andre Miller with the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday in Dallas. New York acquired the selection from Ottawa for the 26th and 48th overall picks.
K'Andre Miller
Position: Defense
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 206 lbs
Age: 18
Club: USA U-18 (NTDP)
Nationality: American
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 GPG | 5v5 PPG | 5v5 GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 0.09 | 0.59 | 62.9 |
(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
Bursting with raw potential, Miller is among the most intriguing defensemen in this year's draft class. He's a natural athlete and an exceptionally smooth skater for a defender of his stature, even though the 18-year-old has only played the position for a handful of seasons.
Originally a forward, Miller patrols the blue line with the offensive instincts of a front-line skater. That much is evident from his stat line, as this season Miller outpaced all defenders on the U.S. National Development Program's Under-18 team. When the season wrapped, Miller had the opportunity to showcase his offensive acumen as part of the American squad at the Under-18 World Championship, where he picked up a goal and two assists across seven games.
While there's little doubting Miller's ability with the puck, he must continue to develop the defensive details of his game. He'll have the opportunity to do that next season at the University of Wisconsin.
"(His) upside is too much to ignore when you consider the size, skating ability, and athleticism," said Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet. "(He) has cleaned up his game from the start of the season."
Click here to watch highlights of Miller.
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