Courtesy: Washington Post
Ryan Miller never fit the part … being the face of a pro hockey franchise, that is. With an understated personality—and a look to match—his parting image to Buffalonians probably seemed apropos: dressed in a business suit touched off with tight-fitting ski cap.
Miller met with the press during an intermission of a Sabres game—a game that he was supposed to start. The subject was his trade to the St. Louis Blues, made just hours before. It wasn’t an easy task. It showed. “I don’t know if I’ll make it through this, so let’s keep it quick,” Miller said (Associated Press).
But Miller knew a trade would be coming. The Sabres had the worst record in the NHL. The team had a new general manager and a new head coach. Miller’s contract was about to expire. He’s 33 years old. Put it all together: the time was right for the Sabres to recalibrate.
So Miller was peddled to the Blues along with Steve Ott. In return, the Sabres got a replacement goalie, Jaroslav Halak, and two other players, Chris Stewart and William Carrier. They received draft picks, too, a 1st-rounder in 2015 and a conditional 3rd-round pick in 2016. That 3rd-rounder may end up being in the 1st round if the Blues do well in this year’s playoff or if Miller re-signs with the Blues before the draft.
Courtesy: CBS Local St. Louis
It was a good deal for both teams—helping St. Louis make a championship push and giving Buffalo a rebuilding boost.
Miller’s 2013-14 season in Buffalo told two stories: 4th in the league in Save Percentage (SV%) and 2nd in losses. It’s a single story in St. Louis: Miller has won six times in seven games (through March 15), giving up only 12 total goals.
That’s more like it for a player considered to be a world-class goalie. It’s a reputation that buffered Miller from more extensive criticism in his up-and-down Buffalo career. This season with the Sabres may have been the worst—in sharp contrast to the bevy of achievements in 2009-10. That year Miller led Buffalo to the Northeast Division title; won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie; became the starting goalie for Team USA in the Olympics; and was named Olympic hockey’s Most Valuable Player.
Courtesy: NHL SI.com
It all started for Miller at Michigan State. He was one of five “Miller boys” (brother, Drew, and the “cousins K”—Kelly, Kip, and Kevin) to play for the hockey Spartans. Ryan excelled. In three years he went 73-19 with a 1.54 GAA. He topped his career by winning the Hobey Baker Award in 2001 as the nation’s top college player. Miller still holds two NCAA records—career save percentage (.941) and career shutouts (26).
Courtesy: MSU Spartans.com
But those performances didn’t translate well or immediately as a pro in Buffalo. He wasn’t ready for the NHL, lasting about fifteen games. He spent the rest of that first year—and all of the next—with the Rochester Amerks. It was a maturing experience. Miller’s fortunes reversed during the “lockout year” of 2004-05: he led Rochester to the best record in the American Hockey League.
Back with the Sabres in 2005-06—this time for good—Miller excelled. He became Buffalo’s starting goalie and ended the season ranked 9th in SV% (.914). More importantly for Buffalo fans the Sabres did really well that year. The team made it all the way to the conference finals, a feat the Sabres repeated the following season.
Now, whatever Miller does, he’ll do it as a St. Louis Blue. It seems incongruous, like Derek Jeter playing short for the Mets. But the change of scenery is more than “just a business deal.” It illustrates the challenges facing smaller-market teams: they may have a star for a few years, but it’s unlikely he’ll end his career with the same club. And cash is rarely available to sign multiple top-line players at the same time. So teams make a big splash, now and again, but end up as also-rans most of the time.
Ryan Miller circumstance also raises an age-old question in pro sports: how good a player would have been if he had played his entire career with a better team. That question will follow Miller into retirement.
Courtesy: St. Louis-MO.gov
Engaging in that discussion—or on any topic, for that matter—might not suit Miller well. He’s well-known for getting quickly to the point. Miller once gave the press a two-sentence response after being shelled by the Wings during his rookie year. Miller was similarly terse when talking about leaving Buffalo: “I’m really going to miss this part of the world,” he said (Associated Press).
That part of the world will miss him, too. “Wow! It’s funny how emotions can be attached to someone you never met,” a fan commented on Yahoo! Sports.
Emotional attachment is all that’s left for Sabres fans. “Miller Time” is over in Buffalo.
ENDNOTE: This column is dedicated to the Corbelli boys, Peter Jr., of Batavia, NY, and brother, Paul, of LeRoy, NY, hockey aficionados both. These Western New Yorkers relish times on the ice—even now, well into their adulthood. They’re long-time Sabres fans, too.
