Sabres Actually Retain an Impending UFA?

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Jul 18, 02:01 PM | Hype this story!

Believe it or not, it’s true. The Buffalo Sabres, who have become synonymous with foot-plodding mismanagement in regards to expiring contracts, have actually kept a core player around for the long haul.

The Sabres announced today that goaltender Ryan Miller has signed on for five more years and $31.25 million ($6.25 million cap hit). Miller was in the final year of his previous agreement that saw him earn $3.5 million (cap hit: $2,666,667).

Miller, who turned 28 yesterday, played in a career high 76 games for Buffalo last season (a Sabres franchise record). He went 36-27-10 with a 2.64 GAA and .906 save pct. with three shutouts.

The former Michigan State Spartan will remain with the club until 2014, instead of becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Miller was drafted by the Sabres in the fifth round of 1999; the pick was acquired when Buffalo traded Mike Wilson to Florida for Rhett Warrener and the pick that ended up being Miller.

Comments

  1. Ben Schmidt

    Jul 18, 02:56 PM

    This is not meant to be a knock on Miller in the slightest, but wow. If Miller got $6.25M/yr, then Fleury really gave the Penguins a very nice discount…

  2. Dabich

    Jul 18, 03:44 PM

    Ben, isn’t that the truth??!!??

  3. DS

    Jul 18, 06:49 PM

    What can you or your hockey franchise do with an extra million a year, anyway? (well, that or the extra ~$4 million total we’re paying Fleury…)

    And again, not a knock on Miller, but frankly B-lo NEEDED to sign him. Way more so even than us with MAF — he IS the franchise player there.

  4. Ashley Gallant

    Jul 18, 08:01 PM

    Yeah, Buffalo needs Ryan Miller, especially after they gave away Drury and Brière last summer. Gotta give the fans something. It also puts the “Michigan boy wants to play in Detroit” rumours to rest. Now all they need to do is re-sign Afinogenov.

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