The Carolina Hurricanes acquired RFA defenseman K'Andre Miller in a trade with the New York Rangers on the opening day of free agency.
The team traded a 2026 first, second and rookie blueliner Scott Morrow for the 6-foot-5 defender and promptly signed him to an eight-year, $6 million extension.
Miller spoke with the media over Zoom on Wednesday. Here's what he had to say:
Media Availability: K'Andre Miller | Carolina Hurricanes
New Canes defenseman speaks to the media for the first time since being traded to Raleigh, and signing an eight-year extension
K'Andre Miller
On what makes Carolina such a good fit for him: I think we've always had great battles at least when I was on the other side playing against Carolina. They have such a fast team, they get up and down the ice in a fast motion and they do everything as a team. It's a fun group to watch and they've had a lot of success recently. So I'm excited to join that style of game. They have a great team over there so I'm excited.
On if he feels comfortable playing on his offhand: I think in the game of hockey, everything kind of happens so quick that you get stuck sometimes on the right side. I don't know. You just have to bear with it and play your shifts. I don't know. It happens so quick as I said. I've played right, I've played left. Pretty comfortable with both. In the offensive zone, obviously it's a little bit easier to pick up pucks being on that right side and having your stick to the middle of the ice to get shots through the net. I think that's going to be a fun challenge for me. Something a little bit different, but I'm excited for it.
On his impression of Carolina as a smaller, southern market: I'm super excited for that aspect. The style of living is a little bit slower paced. I think that I'm really going to like that. Obviously being from Minnesota, I think it's going to be very comparable and I'm super excited for that aspect.
On when he got a sense that he might not back with the Rangers: I think there was a lot of noise throughout the season. I think it was definitely in the back of my head that something could, might happen, but yeah. I loved my time in New York. It was great, but I'm excited for what's to come in Carolina.
On if anyone from the team had reached out to him yet: I've had a number of guys reach out, which has been great. So it's great to be moving somewhere new and having guys welcome me like they did. A number of guys reached out and welcomed me and my family. So we're all really excited to move.
On his impression of Rod Brind'Amour: I've heard nothing but great things about Rod. Heard that he's one of the best coaches in the league and honestly I can't wait to shake his hand and get to know him and meet him and talk hockey. I think there's been a number of guys who have reached out and said, 'You're really lucky to be in this position. To have a coach and to have a team like Carolina supporting you and who's going to be with you for the next couple of years.' I'm super excited for the whole thing.
On the one thing he's not going to miss about playing against Carolina: I think just the speed. I think it's going to be so much fun being on the other side and being able to add to that speed and getting up and down on the rush and not getting hemmed in in our D-zone. I think it will be fun.
On how he feels the Hurricanes might help to bring out the best in him (and if he's familiar with assistant coach Tim Gleason): I actually don't know too much about Tim Gleason, but I'm super excited about the style that they play. Getting up and down the ice in a fast motion, making plays through the neutral zone to get pucks to the forward with speed and letting them do their things but also being able to join the rush and trying to create. I think that's something that I've built my game around the last couple of years and I'm only getting better so it's great.
On how the last few weeks have been for him: First off, it was a great day for me and my family. Obviously life changing and me and my mom are obviously not only set for life, but extremely happy for the position that we're in and very grateful. On the other note, I didn't know all too much about it. I honestly shut my phone off and my socials the last couple of weeks just with all the speculation and kind of noise with the uncertainty with New York. I don't know. It was good just to decompress and just worry about my summer. Getting stronger, getting my mind right. I'm in a good spot now, so all good.
On his impressions of Jaccob Slavin: He's definitely one of the guys who I've tried to model my game after the last couple of years. Taking anything that he's doing on the ice and trying to replicate it. He's obviously a generational player in this league and on this team. I think it's going to be great sharing ideas and sharing the ice with him. So I'm really looking forward to that.
On the negotiations with Carolina: It was a big decision. I think... I don't know. My agent helped me obviously with the decision and just the whole process. Just working things out and making sure everything was set. So yeah.
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