Ryan Miller was Buffalo's best player on Wednesday night in Detroit.
Miller's 12th NHL season began with him making 32 saves on 34 shots faced in Detroit in Buffalo's season opener..
Miller was brilliant in the 2-1 loss. Jimmy Howard was one save better than Miller.
On Friday night, the Team USA goalie prospect Miller will host fellow American Olympic team hopeful Craig Anderson and the Ottawa Senators.
Miller is one of six goalies at the Team USA orientation session. Miller will be challenged by Jonathon Quick, Jimmy Howard, Corey Schneider, Craig Anderson, and John Gibson.
Miller is in great company. Nothing is a given for him to make the Team USA roster. Its not a popularity or schmooze contest. The winning goalies will earn the three jobs in Sochi, Russia, The other three goalies will be laying on a Florida beach for the two week Olympic break.
Many of you have asked me whether or not Miller will be selected to represented his country at the Sochi Olympic games. Nothing is a given.
Last month, it was announced that former Toronto Maple Leafs GM and former Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell will be scouting Team USA players in their NHL games. Burke and Waddell, Team USA veterans, will be grading the performances of Miller and all of his Team USA player candidates. They will report their findings directly back to the executive group.
The better the grades a player achieves, the higher the probability that the player will be playing for Team USA in Sochi. Lowest grades, not so much.
When asked about Ryan Miller's chances of making the Sochi squad, Burke said that Miller in "in the mix" of goalies being considered for Team USA. Burke also said that Miler isn't owed anything as a result of the silver medal that he earned for his Team USA squad at teh Vancouver Olympics in 2010.
Team USA GM David Poile told the assembled media that he is going to have a tough time selecting three goalies and sending three goalies home.
“We are going to have some really tough decisions on who will be our three guys.”
Will reputation and past performance play in to Poile's final decisions?
Doesn't sound like it.
"Body of work is important. Equally if not more important is what you do in October, November and December.
Pole said that Team USA's final roster will be announced on or around January 1, 2014.
Bottom line:
If Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres struggle in October, November and December, its safe to say that Miller will not be selected for the team USA Sochi squad.
Conversely, Miller could tip the ice in his favor by winning the majority of his starts in the first three months of the season.
Brian Burke and Don Waddell will be in attendance, live and in person, with their clip boards and score cards in hand to grade Miller's performances.
The onus is on Miller to prove to Burke, Waddell, and Poile that he belongs on the Team USA roster.
Miller is going to have a lot on his plate in the early going this season. His first priority is to be the best goalie that he can be for his Buffalo Sabres teammates. The Team USA selection is just the cherry on the hot fudge sundae. He's being paid $6.25 million this season to win more games than he loses, and to get his Buffalo Sabres back in the playoffs. The Sabres have missed the playoffs the past two seasons.
Whats more, Miller is entering his contract year. He will become UFA on July 1, 2014.
Nothing like a little pressure.
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If Jason Spezza can stay healthy, he will have himself a big statistical season.
With recently acquired sniper Bobby Ryan on his wing, Spezza will have to balance the responsibilities that come along with being his team's leading scorer and being his team's latest captain.
Daniel Alfredsson was the Ottawa captain for years until he defected to Stockholm, Jr, as a UFA in July.
Spezza now has some huge skates to fill when the Spezza era will officially begin Friday night in Buffalo. being the asssiant captain was one thing.Wearing the "C" will be an adjustment for Spezza.
"It was exciting to have the press conference and wear the 'C' in exhibition games, but to be the captain in the regular season means a lot more," said Spezza, who has been nursing a groin injury through camp but "felt good" and fully expects to suit up against the Sabres.
Spezza has more points (62) against the Buffalo Sabres than any other team in the NHL.
"My parents drive there and get mad if I don't play well."
Spezza looking to get his season off on a positive note in Buffalo.
"I'm just looking forward to starting the season and getting going. There's a lot of excitement around the team and now we have to live up to those expectations and try to get better
.
Named captain of the Senators Sept. 15, Spezza's job will begin in earnest against the Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday at the Air Canada Centre. But in his new role, he feels his biggest job is to lead with hard work.
"There's more responsibility for sure," said Spezza. "It's important that I show up every day and lead by example (and) that I can push the guys.
"In saying that, you can't (put) the weight of the world on you, either. It's a team sport. It's important that you have a lot of guys doing different things. That will be the same as it always been."
All eyes will be on Spezza as he assumes the captain's role in Ottawa. He can't get too high, and he certainly can't get too low. His teammates will be watching to see how he reacts to adversity and success.
"You have to be cognizant of everything you say and everything you do, how you act and you react to situations -- just daily stuff that goes on the dressing room," admitted Spezza.
"If I'm complaining about something there's a good chance that other guys are going to hear that and everybody will feel the same way. You have be cognizant that you are on the same page as the coach with practice days, workout days and what we are going to do.
"That's an important thing for Paul and I to form a good relationship as well -- where I'm preaching his message by the time I leave the room."
Thanks Ottawa Sun
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