He doesnt like to fail, Urick said. Hes a perfectionist, and it was kind of hard on him. [7] Just prior to the draft, the Rangers had sent their 26th and 48th overall picks to the Ottawa Senators to trade up for No. He was picked with the 22nd overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. 22 overall, making him a key piece in the early stages of the team's accelerated rebuild. Having just added one of the nation's best recruiting classes, the Badgers look to Miller as a leader even though he's only a sophomore. Watch as Tara Sloan and the 22nd pick KAndre Miller talk about experiencing the 2018 NHL Draft with his mother by his side. "K'Andre Miller earns NY Rangers' roster spot: 'I've never been so prepared for a season ' ". The Journal News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. It's always been a big part of me.". "We are very happy where he's at on his development curve," Drury says of Miller's choice to remain in school. The allure of working with a coaching staff like the Badgers have was strong, Miller said. I just realize that not everyone has it as good as some of us. K'Andre Miller is the son of Fairmont High School graduate Amy Sokoloski. As the Blueshirts desperately fought to get one more shot off, Vincent Trocheck tapped the puck back to Miller. "If I didn't have that, her willingness to do whatever she could to see me succeed, I wouldn't have been able to do this," he says. "But we didn't play a smart game in the first half of the game. He had only been playing defense full time for the previous two seasons when he was drafted. Amy is related to Timothy Richard Sokoloski and Viona Ranae Sokoloski as well as 3 additional people. Catch NHL games streaming live every night (and on replay) this season on ESPN+. He creates a lot of offense on line rushes by jumping into the rush. You only get drafted by an NHL team once, so it fits into those life-changing moments alongside graduating college and getting married. Just having her in my life pushed me to be better every day.. Thats taking nothing away from (Fox's usual partner Ryan Lindgren). But with Miller and the rest of the talent on the Badgers' roster, that might not be until after the NCAA Frozen Four in April. "We know he's in great hands, learning a lot every single day, not only on ice, but off ice.". K'Andre Miller News: 2 days ago Miller logged a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Wild. The Rangers committed 23 turnovers 18 of which were considered giveaways which ended many of their possessions prematurely. 2023 NHL draft: Midseason prospect rankings, led by Connor Bedard, Habs' No. Five players in the group have been selected in the NHL draft over the last two years. There's a lot of things to like. You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. 160 points for McDavid? They asked him to be more physical and block more shots. A converted forward, he has a big 6-foot-4, 211-pound frame, raw athleticism and tremendous skating ability. We felt that he fit that mold. Physically, he's loaded with a ton of tools, size, skating. NHL midseason report cards: From eight A's to two F's, Wyshynski's NHL midseason awards: The best and worst players, jerseys, teams and moments, NHL Power Rankings: Each team's best 2022-23 addition, 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend: Everything you need to know, Men's college hockey: Top teams, best players, Frozen Four picks, Lineup picks, matchups, start or sit advice for Wednesday, Expectations vs production: Disappointing fantasy hockey picks, Seth Jones rallies Blackhawks past Sabres 4-3 in overtime, Flyers rebound from worst loss of season, beat Ducks 5-2, Ranking the top 100 NHL prospects for 2019-20, Ranking all 31 NHL prospect pipelines: Why the Rangers are No. Miller is the exceedingly proud son of Amy Sokoloski, who raised him as a single mom in Minnesota. A tall right-hander, Helling played 12 years in the major leagues, winning 20 games with Texas in 1998 before finishing his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005 and 2006. The Wild lead 2-1 Now a sophomore at Wisconsin and a blue-chip prospect for an Original Six franchise, his biggest dream is finally within reach. "I knew deep down she was hurting as much as I was being away from my best friend.". As the Rangers look to continue building up their franchise, they know they need special types of players. For a brief period, Miller was a child model appearing in Target ads and was even cast in a Honda commercial that featured former Rangers Mike Richter and Pat LaFontaine. 160 points for McDavid? She would work extra hours to provide for my hockey tournaments and hockey equipment, Miller said. [11] By Wisconsin's holiday break, Miller led the team with 17 points and had been twice named the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Rookie of the Month, for October and December. But three days before it began, he broke both of his hockey sticks, which have become pretty expensive these days. Youve got to get pucks in the corners and stuff like that. Hockey forces you to grow up sooner in a lot of cases. Then finally we started getting pucks below the goal line and getting some chances, but we caused a lot of our own (issues) tonight.". "My mom is one of the biggest inspirations in my life, probably will ever be in my life," Miller says. Follow. [31] The following year, Miller served as an alternate captain for Team USA and logged the highest number of minutes of any American defenseman, but after losing 10 to Finland in the quarterfinals, the United States failed to medal at the WJC for the first time in five years. I'm looking forward to hopefully impacting a lot of young kids that don't think they can make it at this level or get out of whatever they're going through. Later, after scoring the most clutch goal of the season in the Rangers' 2-1 overtime win over the Dallas Stars, he couldn't help but get choked up as he recalled her pregame message. Just prior to the season, Miller was suspended for an unspecified violation of team rules, causing him to miss an intrasquad game. And his ability to adapt and make rapid strides at a difficult position only enhanced how he was viewed as a prospect. A week later, Miller was back in the coaches office, asking to go back to forward. Its one thing to be coachable when the coach is telling you fun things to do, Appert said. But interestingly, none of that came up when asked what a successful career would look like for him. Selected out of the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP), Miller was viewed as a project, albeit one with huge upside. His goal was a beauty. I didn't have brothers or sisters -- it was just me and my mom.". I liked the way he played. "I knew deep down she was hurting as much as I was being away from my best friend.". And he credits the lessons she taught him, the people she put in his life and how she let him go at 16 years old to put himself in a better position to pursue his dreams. [8] He appeared in six games and recorded one assist for Team USA, who finished the tournament in fifth place. The 2018-19 college hockey season is a 190-day journey that officially starts on Saturday and ends in Buffalo, New York, on April 13. "Obviously, [Rangers director of player personnel] Gordie [Clark] and our staff of amateur scouts had a good read on him. Obviously, the sky's the limit.". Miller had a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win over Philadelphia on Saturday. K'Andre Miller's unique path to becoming a top Rangers blue-line prospect, Arizona Coyotes debut new 'Desert Night' jerseys. K'Andre Miller, left, and Rick Helling share more than both having been selected 22nd overall in a draft by a team called the Rangers. The main lesson he said he has tried to impart is that, fair or not, his athletic skills and career track make Millers life different than what other teenagers experience. "She was giving me a lot of motivation," Miller said as his eyes welled. The Rangers may not have to wait much longer to see what Miller can bring to the table at the next level. "The biggest thing, I think, is having an impact on other people," Miller says of his career ahead. "It was kind of a scramble," Fox said. "We didn't come from the richest family. He'd score his first two goals of the season the following day against Merrimack. "We didn't come from the richest family. 1 overall pick Slafkovsky out 3 months, Kane's return helps Oilers take home 4th straight, Flyers' Provorov boycotts Pride night, cites religion, Sabres name COO as president Pegula recovers, Vegas' Lehner files for bankruptcy; $50M debt, Wild lock up Boldy with 7-year, $49M extension, Matthews returns, scores 21st in Maple Leafs' loss, NHL rookie rankings: New names crack the top 5. Add in humility. But we just kept throwing him out there and throwing him out there, and he got better and he started to be more confident.. And his ability to adapt and make rapid strides at a difficult position only enhanced how he was viewed as a prospect. Youre an elite athlete. He's a critical piece of one of college hockey's most talented teams. But with Miller and the rest of the talent on the Badgers' roster, that might not be until after the NCAA Frozen Four in April. Teams were divided into North, West, Central, and East, and played only the other teams within their division. Miller has put himself in a position to succeed on the ice. Zibanejad quickly retreated, but Goodrow headed toward the bench again and called him back on the ice. Click here for the upcoming schedule and to learn how to subscribe. He had a couple deflections near the net. [24] Although the Rangers struggled in the NHL's difficult East Division and missed the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs,[a] Miller, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapo Kakko anchored a core of players aged 22 or younger who sportswriters saw as capable of leading the team through future seasons. [35], Miller attended the 2018 NHL draft with his mother, former MLB pitcher Rick Helling, and Helling's daughter Jordyn. New York traded for Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox over the summer to improve its blue line, and beyond Miller, it also has the likes of Nils Lundkvist and Matthew Robertson in the pipeline at the position. It didn't provide the initial jolt the Rangers were hoping for from the scuffling forward, yet Gallant stuck with him. Miller is part of a defensive corps thats likely to be the featured element of the 2018-19 program. 1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he did not join the team until the 202021 season. Gallant said he would be re-evaluated over the weekend. Former Badgers defenseman and Madison native Ryan Suter is ready to resume his NHL career after breaking two bones in his right ankle late last season. He became the 4th defenseman in Rangers franchise history for the "latest game-tying goals", joining Brian Leetch (1998), Darren Turcotte (1992), and Doug Robinson (1965). Having just added one of the nation's best recruiting classes, the Badgers look to Miller as a leader even though he's only a sophomore. And Miller is showing he can be that type of player for the Blueshirts. "I didn't feel like I was really ready or prepared for that next step yet," Miller says. The incident was condemned by the NHL, the Rangers staff, USA Hockey, and several of Miller's New York teammates. He is close with his mother. Though Drury says the team will continue evaluating him over the course of this season before making a decision about when to sign him, Miller's upward trend developmentally at least puts him in the conversation to officially join the organization as early as this spring. Hopkins native K'Andre Miller", "Rangers Trade Up to Nab Defenseman K'Andre Miller", "K'Andre Miller is first Minnesotan taken, 22nd overall by Rangers", "Rangers select defenseman K'Andre Miller at 22", "Eau Claire hockey star Emberson verbally commits to Wisconsin", "K'Andre Miller Impressing in First Year at Wisconsin", "Miller named HCA National Rookie of the Month", "Miller named HCA National Rookie of the Month for December", "Wisconsin Badgers' K'Andre Miller named a finalist for Big Ten's freshman of the year award", "Wisconsin Badgers' K'Andre Miller suspended for violation of men's hockey team rules", "Rangers' K'Andre Miller: Suspension lifted, set for opener", "K'Andre Miller signs entry-level contract with Rangers", "K'Andre Miller signs with New York Rangers after sophomore season with Badgers men's hockey team", "Rangers sign ex-Wisconsin defenseman K'Andre Miller", "Amid seasons uspension, the signing of K'Andre Miller is a bright spot for New York Rangers", "K'Andre Miller earns NY Rangers' roster spot: 'I've never been so prepared for a season', "K'Andre Miller offers Rangers a bright spot despite a blown lead in Pittsburgh", "Wraparound: Eichel finally enters goal column as Sabres defeat Rangers 32", "K'Andre Miller's confidence builds as he does 'heavy lifting' for New York Rangers", "How New Divisions, Schedule Will Work in 202021 NHL Season", "Rangers miss playoffs, struggles against East elite among reasons", "Rangers' K'Andre Miller looks to build on stellar rookie season", "K'Andre Miller may have found something in Rangers' last few games", "Big Goals: Ovechkin ties Hull, K'Andre Miller goes coast-to-coast", "Wisconsin Badgers' weary K'Andre Miller sees World Juniors experience as steppingstone for 2020 tournament", "Rangers prospect K'Andre Miller weighs in on George Floyd's death and his own experience with racism", "Rangers Prospect K'Andre Miller Faces Racial Abuse in a Team Video Chat", "Rangers' K'Andre Miller speaks out after being target of racist Zoom hack", "Behind the scenes with the Wisconsin Badgers' future NHL stars", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=K%27Andre_Miller&oldid=1134461547, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, 21st-century African-American sportspeople, Ice hockey players from Saint Paul, Minnesota, National Hockey League first-round draft picks, Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey players, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 20:37. Some of the offensive issues stemmed from poor puck management. K'Andre Miller, the son of Fairmont High School graduate Amy Sokoloski, scored a goal for the Rangers tonight vs. the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden. All rights reserved. Moments like those have added up over the years: The mom who made it all possible and the kid who used to draw nets on the wall in his building's parking garage where he'd shoot tennis ball after tennis ball. In 62 NCAA appearances, he had a total of 40 points. NHL midseason report cards: From eight A's to two F's, Wyshynski's NHL midseason awards: The best and worst players, jerseys, teams and moments, NHL Power Rankings: Each team's best 2022-23 addition, 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend: Everything you need to know, Men's college hockey: Top teams, best players, Frozen Four picks, Lineup picks, matchups, start or sit advice for Wednesday, Expectations vs production: Disappointing fantasy hockey picks, Seth Jones rallies Blackhawks past Sabres 4-3 in overtime, Flyers rebound from worst loss of season, beat Ducks 5-2, Ranking the top 100 NHL prospects for 2019-20, Ranking all 31 NHL prospect pipelines: Why the Rangers are No. NEW YORK - Before he even stepped on the Madison Square Garden ice Thursday, K'Andre Miller received a text from his mother, Amy Sokoloski. The star quality was always evident. "There wasnt much going on, really," Gallant said. They took Miller with their second of three first-round picks in the 2018 NHL draft, at No. Miller, whose NHL-level skating ability and 6-foot-4 frame helped allay his initial fears in a position change less than three years ago, enters the Badgers picture with a seemingly boundless future. ST. PAUL, Minn. KAndre Miller remembers both times hes been on the ice at the Xcel Energy Center, a 25-minute drive from Minnetonka, where he grew up. I thought our guys gutted it out and played hard against a real good team.". Miller is the exceedingly proud son of Amy Sokoloski, who raised him as a single mom in Minnesota. But Miller was a forward because, as Urick tells it, he wanted to score goals., And as a little kid, I was the same way, Urick said. 1 overall pick Slafkovsky out 3 months, Kane's return helps Oilers take home 4th straight, Flyers' Provorov boycotts Pride night, cites religion, Sabres name COO as president Pegula recovers, Vegas' Lehner files for bankruptcy; $50M debt, Wild lock up Boldy with 7-year, $49M extension, Matthews returns, scores 21st in Maple Leafs' loss, NHL rookie rankings: New names crack the top 5. Games like these, I know she's not in the stands, but I feel her presence and I think that's everything in a mother-son relationship like that. Undrafted team captain Peter Tischke is likely to have a pro career waiting for him after his senior season. So I knew I wanted to develop a little bit more on and off the ice with these guys. Tischke had chances to sign a pro contract after his junior season, and it wasn't the first time that his Badgers career almost ended. We felt that he fit that mold. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). [8] Two years prior to his NHL draft, Miller had already committed to attending the University of Wisconsin to play college ice hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers. But interestingly, none of that came up when asked what a successful career would look like for him. Or if I had something on my mind, I went to him. The Rangers have been lining up with 24-year-old Ryan Lindgren, 22-year-old Miller and 21-year-old Zac Jones on the left side of their defense. Postgame takeaways: K'Andre Miller's last-second goal fuels emotional NY Rangers win Jan. 13, 2023 NEW YORK - Before he even stepped on the Madison Square Garden ice Thursday, Rangers' K'Andre Miller: Offense firing up. "A first-round pick like K'Andre -- you don't just want good players but good people. Hockey forces you to grow up sooner in a lot of cases. As a freshman at Wisconsin in 2018-19, Miller had a spectacular season before injury cost him the last few weeks of the campaign. Miller is the exceedingly proud son of Amy Sokoloski, who raised him as a single mom in Minnesota. It's always been a big part of me.". Add in coachability. Miller moved onto the high school varsity team as a freshman, playing forward and contributing a few goals. "Her motivation to even get me to this point pushed me every day to hopefully give back to her for all the things she sacrificed.". Here they are with the s. It was something he shared with his mom, and Sokoloski made sacrifices to keep her only child in the game. She worked hard to allow her only child to achieve his dreams, and her example has stuck with Miller and drives him. 6 in both major men's college hockey polls. I didn't see much there, so I just took it to the backhand and tried to put it on the far side.". (If not sooner.) Now a sophomore at Wisconsin and a blue-chip prospect for an Original Six franchise, his biggest dream is finally within reach. [14], Following his successful freshman campaign, Miller entered the 201920 NCAA season as one of only two unanimous selections to the preseason All-Big Ten First Team. Amy asked her manager at work for extra hours so she could replace the broken sticks. The Rangers hope thats the case. [11][12] Although his season came to a premature end after suffering a leg injury during a February 9 game against the OSU Buckeyes, Miller finished the season with five goals, 22 points, and a +7 rating, and he was a finalist for Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year. NHLI via Getty Images. Amy is forty-eight. I didn't have brothers or sisters -- it was just me and my mom.". You try to keep it simple. My old high school coach, football coach actually, always used to say, Key, skys the limit. Amy always found a way. Miller is already taking steps in that direction while in school. But the idea of him playing defense never really went away, and when Minnetonka was short on the blue line in Millers sophomore year, Urick put the change to him as a one-week trial. "When I left for the national program, it got hard knowing that she was all by herself at home, trying to watch me succeed," Miller recalls. The New York Rangers noticed it, too. Latest NHL draft buzz: Who is rising after world juniors? [37] Miller considers Helling a mentor.[36]. 55.6K followers. Wisconsin State Journal reporter Todd Milewski takes a position-by-position look at the 2018-19 Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey roster. He broke his stick on Tyler Seguin's back and was called for roughing, handing the Stars their first power play of the evening. "When I looked back up again when I got the puck the second time, I saw Oettinger was just kind of standing there," Miller said. At the time he was shooting those tennis balls, he still thought he was a forward. I see it every day, I wake up to it, and just kind of live it. Physically, he's loaded with a ton of tools, size, skating. Miller was still learning the position when the Rangers called his name, but he seemed to be an especially quick study. Catch NHL games streaming live every night (and on replay) this season on ESPN+. 2023 www.lohud.com. With the Badgers, its only just beginning for Miller. Miller has put himself in a position to succeed on the ice. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. ---------------------------------------------- Subscribe to Sportsnet on YouTube - http://sprtsnt.ca/2paAT2LVisit Sportsnet.ca for more sports news and highlights - http://www.sportsnet.ca Follow Sportsnet on Facebook - http://sprtsnt.ca/YTFBFollow Sportsnet on Twitter - http://sprtsnt.ca/YTTWTRFollow Sportsnet on Instagram - http://sprtsnt.ca/YTINSTFollow Sportsnet on Snapchat - http://sprtsnt.ca/YTSNAPWatch Sportsnet on Sportsnet Now - http://sportsnet.ca/now Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. He would be available to sign and join the Rangers' youthful defense corps after his college season concludes.