I've telling you about Ryan Miller, the Sabres and St. Louis Blues since before the NHL Entry Draft.
Today, on UFA Day, Pierre LeBrun, confirmed what I've been hearing.
The Sabres and Blues have indeed had conversations about Miller. Its no secret. The Blues were smoked in the first round of the playoffs by the LA Kings for the second postseason in a row. Halak and Elliott are entering the final season of their repsective contracts with the Blues, while youngster Jake Allen is RFA.
Like Halak and Elliot, Miller is entering the final year of his current contract.
I reached out to Miller's agent on Friday afternoon to get an update on #30's status.
I've been told that the Sabres had asked St. Louis for power winger TJ Oshie and a second round pick in exchange for Miller. I've also heard that the Sabres have asked about the availability of St. Louis blue chip prospect Ty Rattie. The Blues clearly were not in a giving mood that day.
However, thats how negotiations work. It sa give-take process. The buyer wants value, the seller wants value. There is a win/win scenrio with Buffalo and the St. Louis.
Here's why i say this with certainty.
The Blues have three goalies right now.
Last week, heading into the NHL Entry Draft, St. Louis goalies Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott found their names in the trade rumor mill, and rightly so. For the second year in a row, the Blues were punted from the playoffs by the LA Lings. Goaltending was the bugaboo for the second season in a row. Now comes word out of St. Louis that their GM, Doug Armstrong, tried to trade Halak and Elliott, however, he struck out. The Blues GM told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he believes that Halak and Elliott will attend Blues training camp, along with young star on the rise, Jake Allen.
"I would say now that all indications are that Jaro, Brian and Jake will be the three goalies at camp," Armstrong said. "And that's an interesting one. When the season ended, and the emotion subsides....I talked to Ken probably about this situation more than anything....where we would have been if we didn't have one of these three guys last year?
So if there's something that's a way to improve our team, we always look at doing that. But it's a strength, for me, after a time of reflection."
Hmm. Three goalies. Who's the #1? #2?
I take Armstrong's quote to mean that he and Hitchcock are sick of having their stacked team get bounced in the early rounds of the playoffs because their goalies are their Achilles Heel. Armstrong tried to get rid of his two UFAs to be, but was given the thumbs down. Halak will earn $3.75 million in the final year of his deal while Elliott will earn $1.8 million in the last year of his contract. Jake Allen is RFA. The thought process here is that the Blues want to keep Allen long term and are willing to move Halak or Elliott.
Perhaps teams, like say, Buffalo for example, are asking for too much compensation in exchange for Ryan Miller. Perhaps Armstrong called on Miller and Regier asked for TJ Oshie, Vlad tarasenko, or Ty Rattie and a second rounder and Armstrong said "see you later".
That doesn't mean he won't keep trying.
Armstrong made it a point to say that if there is a way to improve his club's goaltending, then he'll do it.
Keep an eye on Buffalo and St. Louis with regard to Ryan Miller talks in the days to come.
Hitchcock's patience may be reaching its end.
***
Poor goal tending killed the Blues in the first round against the Kings, for the second postseason in a row. Jonathon Quick was better in the Kings net than Brian Elliott was in the Blues net. Their fatal flaw was their wonky net minding. Thats why it makes good sense for the Blues to make a serious run at Ryan Miller because I don't see Elliott beating Quick, Crawford, or Niemi anytime soon. The only reprieve that the Blues will get this reason is that Jimmy Howard and the Winged Wheel have moved to the Eastern Conference. Other than that, the team with the best goal tending will win the Western arms race. Right now, Elliott and the Blues just are good enough in their net. Sorry, Blues fan. The news is out on the street. You are only as good as your starting goalie, and right now, Elliott is being questioned. Jake Allen played well for the Blues in the AHL and in spot starts with the Blues this season, however, I don't see him starting 65+ games this season in St. Louis. Injury prone vet Jaro Halak will make $3.75 million this season, and like Elllott, will become UFA on July 5. 2014. I can see the Blues unloading Halak's salary. Elliott will have to earn a long term extension. I just don't see the Blues wanting to keep him long term. Thats why Miller makes better sense for the Blues because he knows how to handle the rigors of a 70+ game season. Elliott can be Miller's back-up.
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