Does Ryan Callahan look like he's worried that he's being mentioned in trade talks?
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In the past six weeks, Ryan Miller has been the most consistent goaltender in the NHL. He's 8-3-3 with a 2.09 GAA and proudly sports a .938 save %.
Today, Miller will attempt to play head games with Semyon Varlamov who will be at the lonely end of the rink.
Team USA vs. Team Russia.
If Team USA management chooses to start Jonathon Quick over Miller at the Sochi games, the whole lot of them should be mandated to submit urine samples to the IOC. Save your "Quick won a Stanley Cup, therefore he can win a gold medal" rhetoric. All due respect to Quick, the Olympics are a different kind of pressure, the likes of which Miller has excelled at in the recent past. Quick has not. Besides, Quick missed six weeks of game action while he recovered from a Grad 2 groin strain that he suffered in Buffalo in early November. Quick appears to have made a full recovery from his injury, however, I feel like Miller has earned the right to start for Team USA based on the inspirational body of work that he has created during the bleakest of scenarios in Buffalo this season. Take Miller away from the Sabres this season and they wouldn't have the 15 wins that they currently have. Back-up Jhonas Enroth has won just one game in his 16 starts. Miller has covered up all of Buffalo's warts and blemished with his MVP-style performances in his cage.
The Sochi games will be played on the international 200 by 100 sheet, therefore, the goaltenders become all the more important because the angles are more acute. The corners are farther away from the net and they entice north American born players to abandon their post in the slot and to chase the puck. That's why having a rock solid goalie is so important. That, and odd man rushes happen very frequently on the big ice. Miller is a wizard at stopping opponents on breakaways as evidenced by his NHL best 49 career shootout wins, Miller is in a class all by his lonesome in terms of being the last line of defense. Quick's good in that way. Miller is the greatest competitor in terms of having to make the big save in the biggest moments of games.
If I'm David Poile and Dan Bylsma, I give Quick game one vs. Slovakia, then I come back two days later with Miller vs. Varlamov and Russia. From there on out, I'd ride Miller to the medal round.
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As you have come to expect, NY Rangers captain Ryan Callahan worked his tail offl for the New York Rangers in their 4-1 win over hated rivals the New York Islanders on Friday night. Afterwards, Cally was asked about the pervasive trade chatter that contains his name.
#NYR Callahan said recent trade talk reports were news to him. "My heart's here "
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) February 1, 2014I exchanged emails with Callahan's agent Friday night who told me that Ryan is is concentrating on winning games for Rangers and Olympics right now and not about next season.
Callahan's reported asking price of seven years and $6 million over season may have caused the Rangers a case of sticker shock. A report on Twitter Friday night claimed that Callahan's agent asked for and received permission from the Rangers to speak with another team(s) about the pending UFA star winger in the event that he and the Rangers cannot hammer out a deal.
Callahan's agent:"Still expect to continue to explore options with NYR but expect they will explore options in the event of an impasse."
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) February 1, 2014There would be a long line of teams eager to get an opportunity to speak with Callahan. Buffalo, St. Louis, Columbus, Minnesota, and the Islanders are among them.
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Speaking of pending UFA star wingers, Matt Moulson's agent said Friday that he hasn't spoken to the Sabres lately about a contract extension.
Moulson's agent Wade Arnott told the Buffalo News on Friday that there have been no substantial contract talks with the Sabres. He also said that Moulson's injury that he suffered at the hands and stick of Coyotes captain Shane Doan on Thursday night should not have an effect on Moulson's trade value.
"It’s something that we can’t control anyway, so to that end we’re not overly concerned about it,… Arnott said. “Obviously, we’re fully aware that we have a standard trade deadline on March 5, but we also have a trade freeze for the upcoming Olympic break before that. I am aware that managers have been talking and are maybe trying to do something prior to this freeze, but in Matt’s case I’m not sure anything was or would get done anyway.…
Moulson will sit out today's matinee in Denver. He will also sit out the remaining games against Edmonton, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa. That is unless he has a quick recovery from his upper body injury.
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