For a team that has seen far too many talented players leave for other, warmer, locales, the Buffalo Sabres must be thrilled that goaltender Ryan Miller actually decided to stay in Buffalo ... for five more seasons!
Yes, the Sabres announced this morning that Miller Time signed a 5-year deal worth $31.25 million, avoiding the loss their #1 netminder to unrestricted free agency, and avoid a Brian Campbell-like distraction from happening in the future.
My only beef with Ryan Miller is that he hasn't done enough to justify the incredible amount of hype and attention he gets from the media, and this rather large salary increase he's getting. Last season, Miller put up just a paltry 90.6% save percentage, which put him in the lower half of starting goaltenders. Before that? 91.4% and 91.1%, which is good, but not great. I certainly expect more.
That said, Miller is 28 and in his ultimate prime. The fact that the Sabres were able to lock him up for the rest of his peak period will allow them peace of mind and the freedom to worry about the rest of the roster. Given the Sabres troubles keeping their own players, perhaps they had to pay a "Cold Weather Premium"?
On another note, the Sabres better hope Patrick Lalime can give Miller a break now and then. Playing 76 games last season certainly took a toll on Miller, and it was obvious that he couldn't handle a Martin Brodeur-like workload.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-18-2008 @ 5:15PM
kevin said...
yes sabres. now for stafford and pomminville, and the cup just might end up there. AMEN
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7-18-2008 @ 6:49PM
Jeremy said...
Miller always struck me as a Grant Fuhr-type. He's stuck playing last line of defense for an attack-first team without a real stopper on the blueline (although Lydman-Tallinder is an underrated duo). Of course his numbers are going to look kind of weak. But he provides some serious swagger and locker room leadership for the Sabres.
Does that make him worth $6 million+ per season? In this wacky market, who knows. I'd take him over Cristobal Huet, though. Miller has actually won a playoff series, after all (four series victories, to Huet's zero).
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7-20-2008 @ 10:47AM
Bill said...
I have no problem with his save percentage because of the type of game the team plays. The problem that I have with him was his save percentage in shootouts, there were very few goalies with worse stats. Factor in how close the team was to making the playoffs those points are very important.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:17AM
Tom Luongo said...
Jez is a stats-oriented kinda guy... always has been, always will be. His analysis will always start there and sometimes (after some tortuous statistics) end there. A healthy, focused and prepared Miller is worth this contract especially given the way he's handled the playoffs in his two previous runs. If anything, that's what the Sabres just paid a premium for, playoff-tested.
Given that he's got one year left of his old deal this works out to be 6 years, $34.75 mil. Does Miller warrant less than 5 mil a season?
I think so.
Ta,
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