Ryan Miller speaks about not being traded this summer as being part of the "the nature of sports".
Its August 26th and Ryan Miller is still the starting goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres. Miller knows that his GM, Darcy Regier, attempted to trade him over the summer. No deals were worthy of pulling the trigger on, so Regier opted to move on. Miller says he understands it.
“It’s the nature of sport. It’s a transitional time for Buffalo. We had a couple tough years. I mean, it goes from a situation where as the goalie its about the hope you can bring, to ya know, I’ve been there (Buffalo) a long time and we haven’t done enough with the group we had. Its not about hope anymore, its about how the next generation of players, and the next group of players. I think its still a feeling out process where I fit in to that, where maybe the other guys fit into that. I don’t know. But, I still fit into it somehow. I’m still on the team, I’ve got one more year left (will become UFA 7/1/14), and my intention is to be the best I can be as always. I feel like I still have a lot of hockey left and that I can play at a really high level. I have to do what I can do to be a good teammate right now, and help the Sabres become the team they need to be. I’m actually excited. I think we (Buffalo) have a good group of guys, a little bit younger, but I think we’re going to have pretty defined roles of what guys are expected to do. Its like this team (Team USA). We talk about roles, and doing what you need to do, and you’re going to have success. Like in Vancouver, with guys understanding they might not have the same role as they do on the with the team they play with in the NHL. You just go about your business, do the job you’re expected to do and you can win hockey games. I think Buffalo will have to do the same thing".
(Source; Eklund was in the scrum, sent me the audio file)
Leadership. I like what I heard from Miller on Monday. I like that he's willing to do whatever he has to do to help the youngsters in Buffalo to achieve their collective goals this season. I like that he says that he still fits in. I'm hoping Thomas Vanek feels the same way.
Much more to come....
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Ryan Miller waved his Red, White, and Blue flag at USA Hockey Olympic Orientation camp on Monday morning.
Miller said that the Team USA net is "wide open" and that he's going to do everything in his power to make the Olympics squad. He said that he likes the wide open nature of this competition. Miller says that he can't stack his silver medal winning performance from Vancouver in the net and have that stop pucks for him. Miller said that he needs to prove himself all over again.
The news of the New Jersey Devils signing their 23 year old RFA center Adam Henrique to a six year, $24 million deal has me face palming myself.
The Devils have deep-pocketed new owners who obviously are not afraid to sling around the cash.
Lets re-set the RFA marketplace now that Henrique has signed his deal. Gone are the illusions of the "bridge contract" or no contract forces at work in this RFA marketplace. Three NHL GMs, Glen Sather, Dave Nonis, and Darcy Regier are busy, holding the hard line with their RFAs while Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is breaking ranks to sign his RFA to a long term deal. You can include Washington's GM George McPhee in the hard-line group now too as he is attempting to sign his RFA forward Marcus Johansson to a "bridge contract".
Here's a synopsis:
On Friday night, Rangers GM Glen Sather said on Edmonton radio that he will not be signing his RFA forward Derek Stepan to a long term deal. Stepan will get a bridge deal, or will sit out.
On Saturday, there was the David Alter report that Leafs RFA center Nazem Kadri was asking for $5M-$6M per season for 6 seasons. A report that Kadri himself criticized on Twitter. Looks like Naz will be signing a bridge deal or nothing at all in Toronto.
Today, Henrique inked his new long term deal. Its the very same blue light special that the Sabres inked Derek Roy to back in the day. Its a win-win for the player as he'll get the luxury of term and dollars that he wants. The Devils benefit because the contract is a cap-friendly $4M AAV per season.
So, now my question:
Where does the Henrique signing leave Sabres RFA center Cody Hodgson?
Personally, I like a $4 million cap hit for Hodgson. I'm sure he would agree with those dollars. Will Regier? Its easy for me to spend Terry Pegula's money. Does Regier value Hodgson as being better or the same as Henrique?
Will Regier tear up the blue print for CoHo's "bridge contract" and offer him the Henrique deal instead?
Or, will the Buffalo GM play hard ball and tell CoHo's agent Ritch Winter:
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