Should the Sabres try and re-sign Ryan Miller?

Jim Bob

RIP RJ
Feb 27, 2002
55,647
34,477
Rochester, NY
Given the changes to the organization over the past 48 hours and how this season has played out, I'm curious what people think about Ryan Miller and his future.

So, there are basically three main ways to approach this:

1) Do everything you can to re-sign him
2) Don't talk extension and trade him for whatever you can get
3) Play it by ear based on what trade offers are out there and what he would want for an extension (please post your minimum trade return and maximum contract offer in this case)
 

Crazy Tasty

Registered User
Oct 5, 2005
5,260
192
Joisey
I love Miller, if the situation was different and this team was closer to being competitive I'd probably be ok with him retiring here.

That's not the case though and it's time to move on.
 

Cirris

Registered User
Nov 10, 2006
5,578
773
Crackport
You don't have to be a behavioral specialist to know Miller has no intention of returning to Buffalo after April. UNLESS, it's in the opponent's dressing room.
 

haseoke39

Registered User
Mar 29, 2011
13,938
2,490
If Ryan Miller were making contract demands, choice 3 might make more sense. I really doubt that's the case, though.
 

slip

HFBoards Sponsor
Sponsor
Aug 19, 2005
16,027
4,487
Extend! (Within reason).

Obviously we can suck and keep Miller around. Put me down for a 4 year extension at 5 mil per, with a team option for a 5th year at the same price. Not interested in another 2nd round pick and middling prospect; we'll get that and more trading Ott and Moulson. The purge phase of the rebuild is over.

I favor competent goaltending during the construction phase. We did it once with Hasek, we can do it again with Miller (who obviously is no Hasek, but he's solid and bleeds the Blue and Gold).
 

1point21Gigawatts

hell's a gigawatt?
Apr 7, 2010
6,805
3,178
The future
My guess is that Miller will ultimately choose to leave Buffalo. We are feeling pretty good and riding high on the firings/hirings, but the other shoe is gonna drop and the team is still going to struggle to win. Miller will want to go to a contending team, so trade him to the team that offers the best value.
 

Chainshot

Give 'em Enough Rope
Sponsor
Feb 28, 2002
148,139
96,771
Tarnation
It'll be curious to find out how the conversation between LaFontaine and Miller goes. It seems Miller wants to move on and given his age and the tragectory of the team, even with new management, his opportunity for Cup contention is closing.
 

MayDayMayDay

Out here doing time bandit shit...
Feb 22, 2012
3,794
2,612
Peoria, AZ
Play it by ear.

A couple important questions here:

1. How many more games do we think we win next year with Miller than without him? How does that deficit affect our draft position?

2. Yes or No: After the McDavid draft, will the skill of the team in front of him appreciate at a faster pace than his skills deteriorate? If you think it will, I say sign him. If not, you move him and do it pronto.
 

Jim Bob

RIP RJ
Feb 27, 2002
55,647
34,477
Rochester, NY
I would try and get him to sign an extension in the 4 to 5 years at $4 to $5M per year before the deadline.

If he doesn't sign, then move him for what you can get and try again if he hits UFA next summer.

He might have a similar UFA experience to Vokoun....
 

OcAirlines

Registered User
Jul 18, 2009
2,693
14
Of course they should try to re-sign him, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be trying to work a trade as well. The chances of him re-signing here are almost non-existent, but if you don't even try to keep him then that's bad asset management.
 

McCauleyChirps

Gare's "Partner"
May 20, 2006
3,961
2
Rochester, NY
3 years, no more. I think the new management should play it by ear and I think they need more time to find a #1 as I don't think Hackett will hack it, and Enroth will crumble under the work load.
 

wunderpanda

Registered User
Apr 9, 2012
5,491
467
Selfishly, I want Pegula to throw money at him and extend Miller. Realistically I voted to Play it by Ear. Miller has been a Sabre for a decade, been through his fair share of rebuilding and has reached the point where moving on may be best for him.
 

SabresFanNorthPortFL

Registered User
Aug 9, 2007
2,490
207
North Port, FL
"Ryan, we suck right now, we know. We want you here, to be a life-long Sabre. As you can see, we have a plan and we'll be in contention while you are still in your prime. We can offer you a few options: 3x7.5mil, 4x6mil or 5x5mil. We will be active in making this team better very soon"

If he says no, trade him and don't look back. There is something to be said about "star power" and he has it. He's our only "name" player, and he is an excellent goalie.

I voted for resigning him but wouldn't be sad to see him traded.
 

Beerz

Registered User
Jun 28, 2011
34,854
10,348
Love Miller..

But... we have to get assets from him before he leaves.

Trade him.
 

jvirk

Registered User
Oct 31, 2013
1,176
0
NO - we need to trade him and hopefully a team is willing to park with at least a first rounder. that first rounder will be another important piece in our rebuilding effort.

anyone that was part of the "old core" is out, except for miller and stafford of course
 

KeepCalmandCorsiOn

Registered User
Jun 30, 2013
683
0
Call me crazy, but I still think Miller would like to stay here past this season. He genuinely loves Buffalo, and playing for this team even when they suck. Just from some of the things he's said to the media in the past couple of years makes me feel like he still wants the chance to win a cup as a Sabre. And I don't blame him. This is the only NHL team he's ever played for, he sees what a great fanbase it has, and how much a Cup would mean to the city. I feel like he wants to be a part of it.

I think the only thing stopping him would be if he and his wife want kids anytime soon. I really don't see his wife moving to Buffalo full time, so if kids are on their minds, Miller's probably a goner. If kids aren't in the question in the near future, however, then I could see Miller sticking around if they offer him an extension.
 

Karate Johnson*

Guest
Trade him at or prior to the deadline no matter what.

This is really and truly a rebuild.... Front office, coaching, players....

Lets just move on. I honestly thought, 7-8 years ago, that group was gonna get it done. They didn't.

I look forward to the future, even the rough part at the beginning, now that we are rid of Darcy, Lindy etc.
 

kenfury

Registered User
Feb 5, 2011
2,366
279
If Miller was three years younger I would try to keep him but he is going to start declining just as the Sabres will be in the prime of the window. Then you have a team that has questions in goal sometime around 2016-1018. However because Miller is still here Enroth has moved on and the pipeline is not ready in net unless Ulmark pans out. Thats a big gamble. Better to move him just to open up the position. Any assets that come back are nice but not part of the equation to me.
 

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