After failing to clear the conference final hurdle three times over the previous seven seasons, the Hurricanes are finally competing for the organization’s first Stanley Cup in two decades.

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Former Ranger K’Andre Miller played a key role in making it happen.

Unwilling to commit long-term to the then-impending restricted free agent last summer, the Blueshirts traded Miller to Carolina in exchange for defensive prospect Scott Morrow, a conditional first-round pick and a second-rounder in this year’s NHL draft.

Miller subsequently signed an eight-year, $60 million contract extension with the Hurricanes.