The New York Rangers have added another name to their growing list of injured defensemen, as K’Andre Miller is set to be placed on injured reserve following an upper-body injury sustained during the team’s victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. According to reports from Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today Sports, Miller’s injury occurred during the game, and the team made the decision to move him to the injured reserve (IR) list on Thursday.
Miller, a left-shot defender, did not return to the ice for the third period of the Rangers’ 6-3 win over Buffalo, fueling speculation about the severity of his injury. Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette did not provide specifics about when exactly Miller sustained the injury. However, Mollie Walker of the New York Post noted that Miller took a significant hit from Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway midway through the second period, which could have been the cause of the injury.
As per the NHL’s injured reserve rules, Miller will be sidelined for at least a week, ruling him out for a minimum of three games. His IR placement means he will miss the Rangers’ upcoming matchups, including their game on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. The Rangers also have a three-game Central Division road trip following that, which Miller will not join due to his injury. Given this, he is expected to miss a fourth game. His potential return date would likely be December 22nd when the Rangers face the Carolina Hurricanes, marking the earliest possible day for his comeback.
This injury is another setback in what has been a challenging season for Miller. The 24-year-old defenseman has not been able to find his usual rhythm this year, especially offensively. With just two goals and six points through 28 games, Miller is on pace to set career lows in production. Furthermore, he is on track to finish the season with a negative plus-minus rating for the first time in his five-year career in the NHL. Despite spending nearly 600 minutes on the ice at even strength this season, the Rangers have been outscored by opponents. In that time, the Blueshirts have had more shot attempts than their opponents (537-517), but they have been outscored 32-25, which highlights a struggle in terms of defensive play.
The Rangers’ win over Buffalo on Wednesday was a much-needed boost, but it was just their second victory this month. Since their last win against the Vancouver Canucks on November 19th, the Rangers, who were the 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy winners, have gone 3-8-0 in their last 11 games. This stretch has been accompanied by a troubling -14 goal differential, a reflection of the team’s ongoing struggles.
With Miller sidelined, the Rangers have turned to Connor Mackey to step in and take over some of Miller’s responsibilities on the blue line. Mackey, who has primarily played in the American Hockey League (AHL), will begin by filling Miller’s spot in the top-four defensive pairings alongside Braden Schneider. Mackey’s promotion provides the Rangers with a temporary solution, though it highlights the depth issues the team is facing due to multiple injuries on defense.
In addition to Miller’s injury, the Rangers are still without Urho Vaakanainen, who remains unavailable due to an upper-body injury of his own. Vaakanainen was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks last week in a trade that saw the Rangers send former team captain Jacob Trouba to the Ducks. Vaakanainen’s injury means that the Rangers are already playing without him, and his continued absence only further exacerbates the team’s defensive depth concerns.
With these defensive challenges, the Rangers will have to rely on their other blue-liners and forwards to step up in Miller’s absence. Mackey’s insertion into the lineup alongside Schneider will be a key storyline to watch, as the team looks to find stability on the back end. Moreover, the Rangers will need to improve their overall performance, especially given their recent struggles. The team has shown flashes of brilliance at times but has failed to maintain consistent play, which has been a significant factor in their recent slide.
This situation also places additional pressure on the Rangers’ offensive players to produce more, particularly in terms of generating scoring chances and helping out defensively. The team’s defensive woes have been apparent, as evidenced by their negative goal differential and their struggles at even strength. It will be crucial for the Rangers to turn things around, especially with several tough games ahead.
Looking ahead, the Rangers will need to make adjustments both defensively and offensively in order to stay competitive in what has been a tight Eastern Conference this season. While the loss of Miller is undoubtedly a setback, it also presents an opportunity for other players, such as Mackey, to step up and show their worth. The Rangers’ success will depend on their ability to adapt to these challenges and find ways to improve their overall play, especially in their defensive zone.
In conclusion, K’Andre Miller’s move to injured reserve further complicates the Rangers’ defensive struggles. With the team already dealing with multiple injuries, including the absence of Urho Vaakanainen, the pressure on the remaining defensemen will increase. As the Rangers look to rebound from their recent slide, they will need to find ways to perform better, particularly in terms of defensive play and overall consistency. The hope is that Miller’s absence will be short-lived and that he can return to help stabilize the defense in the near future. Until then, the Rangers will have to adjust to their current situation and rely on players like Connor Mackey to fill the gap.
