Do you think the Sabres would be interested in re-signing goalie Ryan Miller??
The better question might be has Miller’s reputation and stock fallen so dramatically after a subpar playoff showing in St. Louis that his options would be so limited that he would consider returning to Buffalo.
Columnist Bucky Gleason addressed that possibility in today’s Buffalo News and thinks that while it may be tempting for the Sabres to bring back the 34-year-old veteran and stabilize their goaltending, it would not be a move that would be conducive to the rebuilding plans of GM Tim Murray.
Miller will be testing unrestricted free agency for the first time, as Blues GM Doug Armstrong indicated this week their plan to go with the tandem of AHL Goalie of the Year Jake Allen and veteran Brian Elliott, who agreed to a three-year contract extension this week.
The decision to move on from Miller guarantees that Buffalo will receive just a third round pick as the conditional part of the trade, instead of a extra first round pick if St. Louis had advanced to the Conference Final or Miller had re-signed before July 1.
Gleason believes that the Sabres should resist the temptation for a Miller sequel in Buffalo, in spite of the fact that his performance covered up for the mistakes and helped accelerate the development of young Sabres defensemen. That would not be the case with the current state of Buffalo goaltending, which looks to be a tandem of Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth for 2014-15, but covering up for the growing pains of a young roster might not be what the Sabres want, as another top draft pick would result in star prospects Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel in the 2015 Draft.
Miller’s interests are likely in the Western Conference, possibly with former teammate Jason Pominville (and likely Thomas Vanek) in Minnesota or potentially with San Jose, who may be looking for a change between the pipes after Antti Niemi faltered in the LA Kings improbable 3-0 comeback on the Sharks. If those options are closed, would you want Miller back???
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