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Red Wings fans would celebrate if Steve Yzerman acquired blueliner

As trade rumors continue to swirl, the Detroit Red Wings may be seeing even more action before or during free agency, with one blueliner on the block.
ByTodd Matthews|
Feb 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller (79) celebrates his goal with defenseman Jacob Trouba (8), center Barclay Goodrow (21) and center Ryan Strome (16) during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Feb 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller (79) celebrates his goal with defenseman Jacob Trouba (8), center Barclay Goodrow (21) and center Ryan Strome (16) during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images | Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Right now, it's just a rumor, but the Detroit Red Wings may be interested in Rangers defenseman, K'Andre Miller. Miller's been the subject of trade rumors, so I'm calling this one legitimate. Should general manager Steve Yzerman find a way to bring the young blueliner to Hockeytown, I wouldn't be surprised, and you, Wings fans, will celebrate.

Adding Miller to the equation would be huge for Detroit, especially after they brought back Albert Johansson on a contract extension. Johansson would be a great lower-middle or high-third-pairing player, - if he's not part of a potential deal here - but Miller would completely change the trajectory of the Red Wings blue line.

Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson are already making names for themselves in Hockeytown, and Johansson (for now) is a great supplement. And Axel Sandin-Pellikka is on the way, either at some point this season, or next year.

Detroit Red Wings blue line would thrive with K'Andre Miller in town

Imagine inserting Miller into that top four, one that struggled at times last season, with Moritz Seider stuck doing most of the heavy lifting. It wasn't a good look for the Wings, a team that wanted to raise the floor this season and finally make the playoffs.

But alas, Year 9 of the playoff drought continued in Year 99 of the franchise, and a contingent of fans rightfully pointed to the blue line, where players like Justin Holl and Erik Gustafsson never held up their respective ends of the deal.

Acquiring Miller would be an upgrade in so many ways. For one, he's young enough to be part of the core, unlike Holl and Gustafsson. He's also just now reaching his prime, and should be poised for a bounce-back season after he toiled through an up and down 2024-25 campaign in Manhattan.

With Aaron Ekblad now off the board and Noah Dobson in Quebec, Miller may be the next-best option for the Wings. At this point, anyway.

Miller finished what was a disappointing season for a Rangers team that couldn't capitalize on their Presidents' Trophy-winning 2023-24 campaign wth 27 points and seven goals through 74 contests. He is a pending restricted free agent heading into the summer.

The Red Wings traded Vladimir Tarasenko earlier today to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations, which may foreshadow a big move for Yzerman.

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