Miller: A buy-in to Buffalo

Ryan Miller certainly left money on the table by not entering free agency next summer but wasn't all that interested in exploring the open market. That was one big point of today's press conference to officially announce Miller's five-year, $31.25-million extension. There wasn't much new ground broken from what Miller told me Friday.

Larry Quinn said after the season ended in April that the Sabres were interested in exploring a long-term deal. Miller said negotiations quickly progressed once they began on July 1 and he was fully committed to the Sabres in part  because of the commitment they've shown to their young players.

"It was a difficult season for us but I got the sense they felt like I put a lot of effort into it and I could still be a franchise player, Miller said.

Added GM Darcy Regier: "This is another chapter along the way to what we hope and expect to be a championship for Ryan and this group of players. It's a very good time for the Sabres. When you look back a year ago to all the [personnel] losses, we also knew this day would come. We're in a good place."

---Mike Harrington

Comments

[Chad]

"Buffalo has several young, very good netminders that could fill any void until they can point their Cap Dollars at the needed vacnacies, IE 2 Top 10 Fwds and 2 Top 10 D-men."

1) Buffalo has ZERO young netminders ready to make the leap to the NHL. Adam Dennis hasn't even showed consistency on the AHL level, let alone even done anything to give rise to the implication that he could be productive in the NHL. Enroth is still very young and it's wishful thinking to believe he's ready for NHL competition in his first year in North America. Just an incorrect statement.

2) You find me one team who has two "top ten forwards" and two "top ten D-Men?" You can't. Detroit comes close with Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Lidstrom. But would you look at that, they drafted and developed all those players. They didn't get them through free agency as you suggest the Sabres should. Yeah, let's go get four top-ten players at their positions. After that, let's decide to win the lottery, too.

[David, North Bay]

Goaltending has never been a problem of the Sabres since their inception. Getting the supporting cast has consistently been their achilles heel.
While Miller is good, he's not 6 million per year good.
Buffalo has several young, very good netminders that could fill any void until they can point their Cap Dollars at the needed vacnacies, IE 2 Top 10 Fwds and 2 Top 10 D-men.
Once these positions would have been filled, they could've looked at trying to lock up one of their netminders to a long term contract.
Once again, they went about things Bass-ackwards and spent too much money on the wrong need.
Look on the horizon, and you'll see yet another season of "wait till next year" approaching.

[ol'Mace]

Guess maybe I am missing another point. Guy does an average job, gets an uber contract because what, he is a great leader ?

Dunno, a great leader doesn't shoot his mouth off about an average team not skipping a beat after losing a pair of captains...but then again maybe I was stupid in knowing when my grade school team wasn't gonna match up against the Buffalo City high schools. Yeah they would have been greatly cheered had I waved a pom pom in their faces and believed themselves ready to contend after a terrible beating playing against the big kids.

Yeah, maybe, see you in 5 years huh ? Or maybe the end of this one after they blow the playoffs again but hey Craig had some good hits didn't he ? Don't wanna waste silly time on a Stanley Cup now.

Next owner, back to reality...

[Kevin W]

Maybe the management has finally gotten the word that they need to be "pro-active" when signing players. Low-ball offers and jerking people around only alienated the players that left.

With this particular deal if you include the $3.5 million that Miller is getting this year to his extension, then we basically have him signed to a 6-year contract for $34.75 million. That's less than $6 million per year which is outstanding for the Sabres when you look at what the top salaries are for goalies. Don't kid yourselves Sabres fans. I realize he didn't have his best year last year but he was both physically and mentally fatigued. The previous two years when we went to the conference championships his winning percentage was around 67%. That's outstanding. If Lalime can be a steady backup to play about 15-20 games then I am confidant that Miller will revert to his old form.

The guy is an outstanding goalie, just entering his prime, signed to a long-term deal at reasonable money. We should be rejoicing that the Sabres finally, FINALLY are taking steps to rectify the horrible contract negotiations of the past.

The last things I would like to see them do in the off-season are:
1. Sign Pominville to a long-term deal. I heard on WGR today from Dennis Williams and the Bulldog that they had reservations about signing him yet because in the back of their mind they still remember that every team in the league had a chance to claim him when he got sent down to the minors and had to be placed on waivers but didn't. Are you kidding me? 30+ goals the past 3 years and over 80 points last year means I don't give a crap about that anymore. Pominville has more than proven he is a legitmate good to great player in the NHL with potential captain possibilities and should be identified as a core player signed to a long-term contract.
2. Just for the hell of it, see what it would take to trade for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester from Florida. He's a restricted free agend from what I have researched they are having a tough time signing. I'm saying this trade would come to fruition. He might be too much for us to sign. He must cost us to much in players, prospects and/or draft picks. But for the love of God, Darcy, please have some vision and just explore the possibility. I bet no one thought that Olie Jokinen would get traded to Phoenix for a bag of pucks either but it practically happened. Just check it out, that's all I ask from management. If it doesn't work fine, but if it does we have a potential superstar blueliner for the next 5 or 6 years.

[Rick]

Why does anyone even bother minding what Henry says? He's beginning to remind me of Randy Quaid's character from Major League II.

[Don F]

Hey Chester, I don't buy this logic: "For all you Briere, Drury, Campell lovers out there -- what have they ever done? Okay, when Drury was a rookie and on a Colorado team that was loaded, he got his name on the cup."
*
These three are now and, when Sabres, were excellent hard-working team players. To imply that because they don't have their "name on the cup" isn't the definition of greatness. To suggest that does a disservice to guys named Kelly, Thomas, Reed, Smith, Talley...and Perrault.

[chester]

For all you Briere, Drury, Campell lovers out there -- what have they ever done? Okay, when Drury was a rookie and on a Colorado team that was loaded, he got his name on the cup. But what since then? Sabres haters act like those three have actually done something; there all going to be footnotes at best in the NHL.

[Buffalo Bill]

Ryan Miller said today: "I chose Buffalo. It is a bit of a buy-in. I buy into what they're about," he said. "That's winning hockey games based on caring about the players and individuals. I have a great relationship with everyone in this organization. It made a lot of sense to stay here. I have great friends and teammates. I trust my coaches, I trust my management and that's not a situation you can always step into, especially with free agency."

Now compare what Miller said today with the op-ed columns we have been served by Bucky Gleason the last five years telling us how horrible the Sabres management is to their players. Who should you believe? An insider like Miller or the guy on the outside whose sole job responsibility is to create crisis and sell newspapers?

[Chad]

"Miller is a good goalie - the problem is the
Sabres are a below average team and the Sabres will be out shot every night."
-LT

Another shoot first, check stats never comment from a hater. Relevant Shots on Goal stat:

Buffalo: 8th most shots
Opponents: 18th most shots

Yep, those Sabres are going to get outshot every night. Run for cover, Ryan.

[danp727]

I think it would be very easy to be cynical about Miller’s signing for $31.25MM over 5 years but it was the Sabres who initiated the talks and expressed interest in securing a long term agreement. I don’t doubt that Miller was looking out for his own interest first but I think we would all do the same. But, as crazy as the free agent market was this year with Brian Campbell whining his way to $56MM, who knows what Miller may have been offered next July?

Campbell, by comparison, cried about leaving Buffalo. Then he cried about being out in California and his desire to move back to the Eastern Conference and closer to home but in the end, he went to the highest bidder. Once he had the big contract, he stopped worrying about the fans in Buffalo or San Jose booing him when he returns. Now he only has to worry about the Chicago fans.

So, it’s a sunny day in the middle of July and hockey is at least two months away. The Sabres waved big bucks in front of a player they believe in and Ryan Miller was smart enough to know when enough is enough. So, if he is feeling a little warm and fuzzy, why not just enjoy it? The team appears to be headed in a lot better direction than it was a year ago.

[Hambone Johnson]

If Arby's wanted to make some extra money, they should do a 5 for $25 roast beef deal. Bucky would go three times a day.

[frank kedzielawa]

Has anyone heard any comments by Craig Rivet about his trade to the Sabres? I've not heard or read a word by Rivet about the trade. Frank

[Don H]

Miller may have decided to take the money while it was availble. If he has another below average season like last year, his value as a free agent may not be as good as this deal. I really can't buy this "great fans, great city, great organozation" when players stay and "cheap organization" when they leave. Players act in their own best interests when it comes to signing contracts.

[LT]

Miller is a good goalie - the problem is the
Sabres are a below average team and the Sabres will be out shot every night.

Mgmt signs a goalie - big deal...where were they 2 yrs ago when they needed one or two more guns to win it all.

Boneheads !!!!!!!!!!!

[ElmaGolf]

Henry - you're moving into the realm of becoming a caricature of yourself.

Yeah, it's better to assume that people like Mike Grier & JP Dumont are "speaking the truth" when they complain the Sabres weren't committed for not paying them more (ignoring that no other teams offered them more).

So, in Henry's world, anyone not buying in 100% to a world of cynicism is a "shill."

Yeah, the Sabres NEVER commit to players or treat them well (except when shills like Hecht, Roy, Vanek, Miller, Gaustad, Lydman, Tallinder and Paille say otherwise).

If Numminen signs on for another year, are you going to call him a "sell-out?"

Again, you have some valid concerns on Miller's performance last year, but the extent that you overreach is comical (i.e. "Roy failed to step up")

[jan]

Miller's got his $$, now it's time to see if he'll work on improving his GAA and save % He's got a lot of work to do to become a top 5 goalie.
Next step -- sign Pominville and figure out who your other defensemen will be.

[Caps]

Sign Pommer and we're good.

[Henry]

Great job Ryan! They paid you well to become a shill for the team! Now work on getting that average below 2.60 and Sv percentage above .908!! Talk is cheap. Save your feel good stuff for Dr Phil or Mike Shillp

[SugarRobRay]

It's good to see Ryan is taken care of. Next up, Pommers. I'd like to see Teppo back to. I think we could use him.