Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Rangers Reportedly Eyeing K'Andre Miller Replacement in Free Agency

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 1:59 PM ET

It appears that the New York Rangers have found a player they'd like to serve as K'Andre Miller's replacement, and that is Blue Jackets' Ivan Provorov.

The New York Rangers could be in the hunt for a defenseman on the free agent market this summer with one specific target in mind, and that player is Ivan Provorov.

According to The Fourth Period, the Rangers are considering Provorov as a candidate to sign in free agency and serve as a replacement for K'Andre Miller.

'Provorov and the Blue Jackets discussed a contract all season long before putting a half on negotiations in March. Columus has tried to get Provorov signed to a new, long-term extension, and has discussed a shorter term deal, but at the time of this update, there is nothing new to report on those negotiations.'
- The Fourth Period

Provorov is set to become a free agent on July 1, and he'll be one of the premier defensemen available, so he should be receiving a lot of interest from a variety of teams.

The 28-year-old has averaged over 20 minutes per game throughout the entirety of his 9-year NHL career thus far, and he has a reliable presence on the ice.

The team is also interested in Vladislav Gavrikov

According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, if Rangers general manager Chris Drury can clear enough cap space, the team could also look to go after Vladislav Gavrikov, making Provorov not the only defenseman on the team's radar.

These rumors about Provorov and Gavrikov come amid rumblings that the Rangers are hesitant to give Miller a long-term contract extension, and they could look to trade him.

During the 2024-25 season, Drury completely re-shaped the Rangers' blueline by trading Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren while also adding Urho Vaakanainen, Will Borgen, and Carson Soucy.

Pierre LeBrun of TSN has reported that Provorov and the Columbus Blue Jackets want to get an extension done, but right now, he remains without a new contract, which is leading to speculation about his future.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: