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Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:03 pm EDT

Ryan Miller: Clearly unaware he's destined to be a Red Wing

By Greg Wyshynski

You know, this five-year contract extension for Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller is really going to make his predestined move between the pipes for the Detroit Red Wings next summer quite difficult.

I'm not quite sure I'm ready to live in a world bereft of constant chatter about Miller going to Detroit and Vinny Lecavalier centering for the Canadiens. It almost seems ... unnatural.

TSN has the deal at five years for $31.25 million, which is less than what Henrik Lundqvist makes but more than the majority of his Eastern Conference peers pull in.

More importantly, it gives the Sabres stability in a position that demands it and successfully avoids putting Miller in the financial lame-duck position Brian Campbell was in for most of last season. Honk If You Love Justice is thrilled and The Goose's Roost believes it's a solid contract. I imagine Crunchy Time is organizing a celebratory all-nighter as we speak.

Miller's first real season as a full-time NHL workhorse saw manageable dips in GAA (2.64) and save percentage (.908) from the previous season on a Buffalo team that struggled. If you think those numbers are worth $6.25 million a year ... well, what are the alternatives, right? Let's just hope the numbers don't continue to trend downward.

The bottom line is that the Sabres avoided contract hell with a good player, and he decided to come back to a city that hasn't had all that much luck attracting or retaining talent.

At the very least, it's five more seasons of quality Yo Momma jokes. Now what are the Red Wings going to do next summer?

Related: Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo

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44 Comments

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  1. Captain Trips
    1. Posted by Captain Trips Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    That link to the Yo Mama jokes must be busted. Shouldn't it to go to BubbaBanjoe's comment in the Aud post?
  2. The KBBL Party Penguin
    2. Posted by The KBBL Party Penguin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

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    "Now what are the Red Wings going to do next summer?"
    Ask the Dominator to return from his 2nd Retirement? It's working so well for Brett Favre...
  3. .................................................!
    3. Posted by .................................................! Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    What about Khabibulin now?
  4. Dewman
    4. Posted by Dewman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    I don't know why everyone was talking about Miller going to the Wings. The Wings don't need another goalie, nor do they really want to spend over $6 million on a goalie when they have Osgood for less than $2 million, and have Jimmy Howard and now Thomas McCollum on the depth chart. News flash... Osgood has three more years on his contract and WILL be and DESERVES to be the #1 guy. He had a great season, and will continue to play well. Do you know why???? BECAUSE HE ALWAYS PLAYS WELL AND CONTINUES TO CONSISTENTLY WIN. There aren't very many goalies out there right now that are as consistent as he is. Look at guys like Khabibulin, Kipprusoff, and Theodore. All superstar goalies who have lost their dominance. Osgood just keeps getting better.
  5. Blackcapricorn
    5. Posted by Blackcapricorn Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    Yo-Mama-ween. Still a classic.
  6. randall b
    6. Posted by randall b Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    thank you Dewman! i was curious where all this miller stuff was coming from. it did not make any sense to me at all. now i realize it is what it is, just rumor. on the reality side, of course miller will want to come here after we win the cup again. people do not give these players enough credit for having smarts, everybody wants to win when it comes down to it. GO REDWINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
  7. His Majesty
    7. Posted by His Majesty Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:32 pm EDT

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    Osgood had a banner season, we'll give him that. However, if he starts staring at the scoreboard, looking for his name as a shot from the blue line blows by him (as the Detroit fans were accustomed to), then we may have to get Howard on the fast track.
  8. Wilf
    8. Posted by Wilf Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    So glad the Penguins got Fleury to sign on the line that is dotted for a million a year less before this contract came out.
    Seriously, folks, if given the choice-- wouldn't you much rather have Fleury than Miller?
  9. Jake
    9. Posted by Jake Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    Fleury over Miller? Push at best. Osgood the starter for the next 3 years? Doubt it. He'll be lucky to survive one more year, let alone 2. Miller to Wings? Not a chance with all D's contracts up after next season and drafting a goalie in 1st round plus Howard and Larsson 1-3 years away. Miller's not worth the money he's going to be paid and would crack under the pressure-cooker that is Detroit coupled with playing for his hometown team. Hope he enjoys getting his cash with an average or overachieving team in front of him with no possibility to win the Cup. History says Dom didn't much care for that.
  10. Wyshynski
    10. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ Wilf
    Whoa, that's a great question. Ryan Miller or MAF?
    I think Fleury was very, very good in the postseason. If it wasn't for his rump-roast scoring a goal, it would have been nearly excellent. But he's still a goalie I worry about as far as playing the puck and letting in a softee now and again.
    Miller, as I wrote above, has been good over the last two years. Not "steal a game" good like MAF can be, but solid. I think there should be a real concern that he's only carried a team once through a regular season, and his numbers were up and down. I think if you cut his work down to about 65-70 games, he could be even better. But I'm not sure you pay $6.25 mil per for a 65-gamer.
  11. Corey D
    11. Posted by Corey D Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:16 pm EDT

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    Miller to Avalanche? Ha ha! Funny!
  12. Ken
    12. Posted by Ken Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    The Stanche still suck.
  13. Wilf
    13. Posted by Wilf Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    Plus, Greg, Miller's four years older. He's reached his apex. Fleury's still getting better, statistically, every year. He'll never handle the puck like the Martys, but he's come a long way from the gaffe at the World Juniors. He'll miss Conkblock's tutelage there.
  14. Ben
    14. Posted by Ben Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    On the Wings tangent, I don't think Ozzie has much time left as starter for the wings. After watching Jimmy Howard play up here for UMaine I can honestly and objectively say he will be a solid pro. Remember the Dallas game on NBC last year? Not bad considering it was a one game call up. My guess is he'll beat out Conklin (UM always beats UNH when it counts) and get some work this year as Ozzie's backup, and then next year either get the starting job or a majority of a time share.
    As for Miller, I agree- it's a little presumptive to pay him over $6m for one full workhorse season. Although in the games I've watched him in (albeit limited and against the weak scoring B's and Dev's) he's always played a rock solid game. And I agree, Wysh, about Fleury and the reg season.
  15. tacwingnut
    15. Posted by tacwingnut Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    the answer to the question as to what the redwings are going to do next summer? same thing they are doing right now traveling all over with the stanley cup
  16. Da Bear
    16. Posted by Da Bear Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

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    OMG if miller comes to the redwings which would be awsome would make them champs for at least couple years in a row. Maybe the best team they ever had.
  17. Mike
    17. Posted by Mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    and we got ty conklin who was the best backup last year after osgood.
  18. Adam
    18. Posted by Adam Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Before Miller signed this extension everyone said it was inevitable that Buffalo would drop the ball again and he'd end up in his home town. Wings fans posted blogs and comments expressing their excitement of having a goaltender younger than 62 years old. Now he's overpaid and overrated? Sounds like sour grapes.
  19. knucklehead
    19. Posted by knucklehead Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Interesting. Well the Wings keep drafting goaltenders hoping to find that diamond in the rough. Clearly Howard has a shot but I don't think he's the guy they're looking for. Miller's still affordable for the Wings but he's gonna have to have a strong season to get their attention next year. They may be somewhat busy putting together a repeat.
  20. Jake
    20. Posted by Jake Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    We wanted him last year, midseason and through round 1 of the playoffs, but we'll eat those sour grapes out of the Stanley Cup now. Miller's no Kipper or Luongo or Brodeur, yet that's how he's being paid. He would have had to take a big hometown discount to come to Detroit (just like everyone else does) at about $3.5 to 4M/yr.
    Turns out, Wings don't need him. We win with average goalies, backups, cast-offs, and old men closing in on Social Security. Vernon, Osgood, Hasek, Osgood = 4 cups in 11 years. It just proves how great the Wings management and style of play is.
  21. Stick Boy
    21. Posted by Stick Boy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    Ok, so where did this line come from? Who ever said Miller was coming to Detroit? The Wings have never said anything about this. Miller played for Michigan State, was awesome, still is s very good goalie. From games I've seen he's better than MAF. MAF is a good goalie, I think he'll improve, but he's not anything like a Dominator, Roy, Broduer, etc. MAF is average. Miller? I think better. Imagine where the Pens would be with Miller between the pipes.
    Back to the Wings....they don't need him now, nor in the future. Obviously they could loose McColleum (sp) but thats not likely. Ozzie has earned the right to start this year, and Howard, (who was really good at Maine- not good in the AHL, Grand Rapids Griffins) has at least earned the right to back up.
    Wysh, did you make this up? Seriously.
  22. Stick Boy
    22. Posted by Stick Boy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    Ok, so where did this line come from? Who ever said Miller was coming to Detroit? The Wings have never said anything about this. Miller played for Michigan State, was awesome, still is s very good goalie. From games I've seen he's better than MAF. MAF is a good goalie, I think he'll improve, but he's not anything like a Dominator, Roy, Broduer, etc. MAF is average. Miller? I think better. Imagine where the Pens would be with Miller between the pipes.
    Back to the Wings....they don't need him now, nor in the future. Obviously they could loose McColleum (sp) but thats not likely. Ozzie has earned the right to start this year, and Howard, (who was really good at Maine- not good in the AHL, Grand Rapids Griffins) has at least earned the right to back up.
    Wysh, did you make this up? Seriously.
  23. Stick Boy
    23. Posted by Stick Boy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    Sorry for the double post, its these cheap work computers. I'm thinking they were made only to do work on. (right)
  24. Tim W
    24. Posted by Tim W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    Have we all been watching the same games? Okay, Miller makes the highlight reels with some great saves, but what about the 40 Footers he lets in religiously that cost us 1 goal games! Biron was the reason they made it where they did previously. Buffalo has been cursed from Major League Sports championships but owes getting there to their Backup Key Players.. the Bills it was Frank Riech.
    Buffalo Fans are the hardest core fans in the league. Rough, Tough and always rooting on the team no matter how many years it takes before we win a Championship.. Unfortunately management is costing the Sabres any chance of this happening anytime soon.
  25. R F
    25. Posted by R F Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    I saw Howard play in Grand Rapids a lot this year, I'm a season ticket holder. I saw him get his butt handed to him and get pulled a few times. I wasn't impressed, he's not ready.

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