Sabres lock up Miller with five-year, $31.25 million contract extension
By Mike Harrington - News Sports Reporter
Updated: 07/18/08 2:13 PM
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- Sabres goalie Ryan Miller has appeared in 205 regular season games, compiling a record of 112-68-19.
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There will be no contract issue lingering over Ryan Miller's season. The Buffalo Sabres announced today they have signed their goaltender to a five-year, $31.25 contract extension that takes him through the 2013-14 campaign. Miller will be paid $6.25 million per year on his new deal. He is scheduled to make $3.5 million this year in the last season of his original contract.
"I was really happy with the way it went," Miller said today by phone from East Lansing, Mich., where he is attending the wedding of his brother, Drew. "There wasn't that much back and forth. They made a good offer and projected what the marketplace is now going forward with the [salary] cap. It's a fair deal for both sides.
"I just like the fact they showed faith in me. They want to build a team with core guys. Signing Paul Gaustad was a good move I liked a lot. I liked the fact they wanted me in that core."
Miller, a Michigan native who was a Hobey Baker Award winner at Michigan State, was set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2008-09 season.
Shortly after last season ended, Sabres officials said signing Miller to a long-term deal was perhaps their top offseason priority. Rumors were swirling throughout hockey circles that he would be interested in returning home to play for the Detroit Red Wings, although Miller routinely discounted that theory when asked.
It was clear to both sides that a deal needed to be struck this summer so Miller did not have the kind of distractions that bothered defenseman Brian Campbell up to the trade deadline last season before he was dealt to San Jose.
"From the perspective of not having to answer questions [about his contract status], that's a good thing for sure," Miller said.
Said General Manager Darcy Regier: "It came down to this is a goaltender we believe in, this is a goaltender who's only going to get better and this is a goaltender who ultimately we think we can win a championship with."
Miller appeared in a franchise-high 76 games last season, posting a record of 36-27-10 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. During the season, Miller made 34 consecutive starts from Jan. 24-April 3 and had a career-high three shutouts. Miller also earned his 100th career victory on Feb. 10 against Florida.
The workload, however, did appear to wear him down as the Sabres failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. He said he's approached the team about a formal plan regarding his workload for the season.
"But this time if they put me in the same amount of games as last year, I'll be better prepared," Miller said. "We all want to put a better plan in place and I'm looking forward to doing that."
Miller set a franchise record for wins in a season with 40 in 2006-07, leading the Sabres to their second straight trip to the Eastern Conference finals. He was also named the starter in the All-Star Game.
Overall, Miller has appeared in 205 regular-season games, compiling a record of 112-68-19 with a career GAA of 2.69 and a .908 save percentage.
"He's established himself as one of the top young goaltenders," Regier said. "When you're talking about conference finals, playoff wins, what he's done in the playoffs, what he's done in his career. Look at his history, it's not about potential."
