To make the money work for the Blues:

We send Miller to St. Louis (eating 50% of his remaining salary and cap hit).

We'll eat Brian Elliott and Chris Stewart in exchange for a better prospect. Jaden Schwartz would be ideal, but Jaskin or Gardiner and a 1st or 2nd would be more likely.

Halak's career playoff numbers: 2.42 GAA; .923 SV%
Miller's career playoff numbers: 2.46 GAA; .917 SV%

Halak's career regular season numbers: 2.41 GAA; .917 SV%
Miller's career regular season numbers: 2.59 GAA; .915 SV%

Halak's best season: 1.97 GAA; .926 SV%
Miller's best season: 2.22 GAA; .929 SV%


Miller has 6 games he looked amazing in during the Olympics. Outside of those 6 games, the only leg up he has is the fact he doesn't have the history of getting injured Halak has. Sure, Halak may have benefited from some better teams, but Halak has also proved he can handle going 10 minutes without touching the puck then having to stop a breakaway. Miller hasn't, and there's no guarantee a goalie who does well seeing the puck a lot will do even better when he doesn't.

So no. Miller isn't worth a Schwartz or Tarasenko to us. He isn't worth the Blues giving up any roster player (other than Halak) or giving up a top prospect.
- Antilles

halak also only has 23 games of playoff experiance, 18 being in one season. miller has 47 games

halak also only has 23 games of playoff experiance, 18 being in one season. miller has 47 games
- jbrylinsabres

What about the rest of the stats?

To make the money work for the Blues:

We send Miller to St. Louis (eating 50% of his remaining salary and cap hit).

We'll eat Brian Elliott and Chris Stewart in exchange for a better prospect. Jaden Schwartz would be ideal, but Jaskin or Gardiner and a 1st or 2nd would be more likely.
- BuffaloDAS

Not sure who Gardiner is, so I am going to just cross him off the list.

So let me get this straight.

You want:

Chris Stewart, Brian Elliott, & either 1 - Schwartz or 2 - Jaskin & a 1st or 2nd

For:

Miller for the rest of this year & about 3 Million of Cap Relief/Salary

What about the rest of the stats?
- BoBBeR56

beginning with the 2002/03 season, Miller has played in 510 games and beginning in(I think) 06/07 season Halak has played 229 games.

To try and compare stats between the 2 without including this little tid bit of info is ridiculous!.....of course Halak's stats are going to look similar or better, there's less dilution to his stats.

If we're talking stats, another interesting one would be for how many seasons did each of them play more than 50 games per season

Halak: played 57 games in 2010/11, only time he's played more than 46 per.

Miller: from 06/07 to 2011/12 he averaged 66 per season, playing an astounding 76 games in 07/08

take it for what you will, but to think that a goalie being ridden as hard as Miller has and can still have the stats he does have is pretty impressive.

take it for what you will, but to think that a goalie being ridden as hard as Miller has and can still have the stats he does have is pretty impressive.
- nikel

If it is so impressive, how come Buffalo fans can't wait to get rid of him.

I mean, he is a very good starter who has been very durable. Why on earth are you guys trying to get rid of him? Makes no sense.

Stewart just got married in the offseason. We all know that our skating ability goes down a bit when you have additional stress at home. I have many friends whose beer league point totals have shrunk due to the weight of the ring. He will get it back, and as I said before, as long as Halak is healthy, and in shape, we will roll with him.

No way anybody is getting Schwartz or Tarasenko either.

Stewart just got married in the offseason. We all know that our skating ability goes down a bit when you have additional stress at home. I have many friends whose beer league point totals have shrunk due to the weight of the ring. He will get it back, and as I said before, as long as Halak is healthy, and in shape, we will roll with him.

No way anybody is getting Schwartz or Tarasenko either.
- bluenoter

Their point totals probably shrunk because they were drunks and couldn't wait until after the game to drink, not because of a ring on their finger.

If it is so impressive, how come Buffalo fans can't wait to get rid of him.

I mean, he is a very good starter who has been very durable. Why on earth are you guys trying to get rid of him? Makes no sense.
- carcus

It's not so much we want to get rid of 'him' but more along the lines of let's get rid of this season. We aren't going anywhere this or next year. We need to build for the future.
I would love to keep Miller around... if we were good. But the [almost] fact of the matter is that he will probably walk this year and not resign with us. So might as well get what we can now.
Personally, love to keep him around but realistically just don't see it happening.

It's not so much we want to get rid of 'him' but more along the lines of let's get rid of this season. We aren't going anywhere this or next year. We need to build for the future.
I would love to keep Miller around... if we were good. But the
- Simple[almost] fact of the matter is that he will probably walk this year and not resign with us. So might as well get what we can now.
Personally, love to keep him around but realistically just don't see it happening.

Ok, I get that. But here is what I don't get. You don't believe that he will stay, that he will just walk. Yet it seems like the trade offers that fans come up with are WAY too high, especially if it is for a player that they expect to just walk.

The demands are way too high for a rental. If he is not a rental and had a good contract to work with, I could maybe see some of the trade proposals. But that is not the case.

Likely a draft pick, maybe a prospect is what he is truely worth as a rental. That will be difficult for teams wanting to rent him as his salary is too high. A draft pick & a prospect for Miller and eating some salary/cap is probably more realistic IMO.

And I just don't see the Blues being interested unless Halak gets injured.

Halak's career playoff numbers: 2.42 GAA; .923 SV%
Miller's career playoff numbers: 2.46 GAA; .917 SV%

Halak's career regular season numbers: 2.41 GAA; .917 SV%
Miller's career regular season numbers: 2.59 GAA; .915 SV%

Halak's best season: 1.97 GAA; .926 SV%
Miller's best season: 2.22 GAA; .929 SV%




Miller has 6 games he looked amazing in during the Olympics. Outside of those 6 games, the only leg up he has is the fact he doesn't have the history of getting injured Halak has. Sure, Halak may have benefited from some better teams, but Halak has also proved he can handle going 10 minutes without touching the puck then having to stop a breakaway. Miller hasn't, and there's no guarantee a goalie who does well seeing the puck a lot will do even better when he doesn't.

So no. Miller isn't worth a Schwartz or Tarasenko to us. He isn't worth the Blues giving up any roster player (other than Halak) or giving up a top prospect.
- Antilles

Have you compared Crawford's numbers to theirs?

Ok, I get that. But here is what I don't get. You don't believe that he will stay, that he will just walk. Yet it seems like the trade offers that fans come up with are WAY too high, especially if it is for a player that they expect to just walk.

The demands are way too high for a rental. If he is not a rental and had a good contract to work with, I could maybe see some of the trade proposals. But that is not the case.

Likely a draft pick, maybe a prospect is what he is truely worth as a rental. That will be difficult for teams wanting to rent him as his salary is too high. A draft pick & a prospect for Miller and eating some salary/cap is probably more realistic IMO.

And I just don't see the Blues being interested unless Halak gets injured.
- carcus

I'm just curious. What would your offer be for Vanek. I'm not Comparing Vanek and Miller. I just want to know what you personally would offer for Vanek.

It's not so much we want to get rid of 'him' but more along the lines of let's get rid of this season. We aren't going anywhere this or next year. We need to build for the future.
I would love to keep Miller around... if we were good. But the
- Simple[almost] fact of the matter is that he will probably walk this year and not resign with us. So might as well get what we can now.
Personally, love to keep him around but realistically just don't see it happening.

My thoughts exactly. I think he wants out, and it's partly ownership's doing, Miller has said multiple times that he doesn't get the feeling he's included in the Sabres rebuild and that's too bad because he's been nothing but a real professional through all the rumors and trade talks.

Carcus- I do agree that the asking price for Miller is too high a price for the Blues, especially with how you are playing....however, it is NOT too high for some team to part with, the Islanders just proved that....would you have believed a week ago that Vanek (also as a rental) would fetch Moulson, a 1st, AND a 2nd?!

The reality is also there that Enroth has put up some pretty good numbers as well and it's about time he deserves a shot, and at less than half on Millers salary.

If it is so impressive, how come Buffalo fans can't wait to get rid of him.

I mean, he is a very good starter who has been very durable. Why on earth are you guys trying to get rid of him? Makes no sense.
- carcus

It's not that we want to get rid of him, it's he doesn't want to be part of the rebuild the Sabres are going through as was the case with Vanek. Reports are Pegula offered to make Vanek the highest paid player in the NHL (which would have been a stuoid move) and he still turned it down. These guys want to contend for the cup...they both have made the bucks, it's about winning. Can't blame either of them for that.

I'm just curious. What would your offer be for Vanek. I'm not Comparing Vanek and Miller. I just want to know what you personally would offer for Vanek.
- TheSabresTaco

I am not sure.

Either way, the Blues are not desperate. If Halak gets hurt, that might change. So the Blues won't overpay for a rental, especially when they are playing as well as they are right now.

Have you compared Crawford's numbers to theirs?
- TheSabresTaco

What does that have to do with what Miller is worth to the Blues? Miller's value to the Blues is based on how much of an upgrade he is over Halak. Hence comparing their numbers. Unless you are offering to trade for Crawford then trade him to us, he has no relevance here.

I am not sure.

Either way, the Blues are not desperate. If Halak gets hurt, that might change. So the Blues won't overpay for a rental, especially when they are playing as well as they are right now.
- carcus

Besides, way things are going right now for the Rangers, if we are looking for a goalie rental near the deadline we'll go after their big fish, not settle for (in those circumstances) second tier Miller.

Besides, way things are going right now for the Rangers, if we are looking for a goalie rental near the deadline we'll go after their big fish, not settle for (in those circumstances) second tier Miller.
- Antilles

Henrik Lundqvist career stats: .920SV% 2.26GAA
Ryan Miller career stats: .915SV% 2.60GAA

They've played a very similar amount of games so this is a good comparison. In that time however, Miller has faced almost 1,000 more shots on goal that Hank faced...which goes to show what Miller was working with for the past 4 yrs or so.

So, Hank would be the better of the two, but the difference is not what most people assume.

Henrik Lundqvist career stats: .920SV% 2.26GAA
Ryan Miller career stats: .915SV% 2.60GAA

They've played a very similar amount of games so this is a good comparison. In that time however, Miller has faced almost 1,000 more shots on goal that Hank faced...which goes to show what Miller was working with for the past 4 yrs or so.

So, Hank would be the better of the two, but the difference is not what most people assume.
- nikel

Which is why Miller puts up really killer stats and wins a bunch of games playing behind the Blues' D, rather than getting shelled every night and going 1-7 here. Even when we were good 7, 8 years ago we'd routinely get outshot, but back then we could score in waves to make up for it.

I am not sure.

Either way, the Blues are not desperate. If Halak gets hurt, that might change. So the Blues won't overpay for a rental, especially when they are playing as well as they are right now.
- carcus

Even if Jaro gets hurt im not sure they look to make a trade. Think right now they would say they are fine with bringing Allen up and giving him an opportunity since he will be with the club next year.

Miller is 3x the goalie Halak will ever be. Halak is way better than average backup at best. He is playing behind of a terrible Sabres team and still posting a 91.4 save percent the guy is a beast!
- cuethenoise

Agreed! Those that do not watch the Sabres day in/day out dont really get a chance to see how great Miller's been the last couple years even though records dont show it. Miller has been phenomenal most nights making spectacular saves to keep the Sabres in every game. Its unfortunate that our team sucks in all phases of the game (maybe not so much on the PK) and gives up too many two on ones and time and space in our D zone.
I would love for him to sign an extension and finish his career here, but if thats not his mindset then we need to get something in return before his departure. for some odd reason Darcy always seems to get maximum return on his trades and thats partial reasoning behind Sabre fans to ask for the stars.

Agreed! Those that do not watch the Sabres day in/day out dont really get a chance to see how great Miller's been the last couple years even though records dont show it. Miller has been phenomenal most nights making spectacular saves to keep the Sabres in every game. Its unfortunate that our team sucks in all phases of the game (maybe not so much on the PK) and gives up too many two on ones and time and space in our D zone.
I would love for him to sign an extension and finish his career here, but if thats not his mindset then we need to get something in return before his departure. for some odd reason Darcy always seems to get maximum return on his trades and thats partial reasoning behind Sabre fans to ask for the stars.
- Up2nuthun

Well, you don't let a guy like that go. You do what you can to make him happy and want to stay, rather than give up and trade him.

It is not going to happen with the Blues. Keep dreaming and asking for the stars. If you get them, it will be from another team.

It is not going to happen with the Blues. Keep dreaming and asking for the stars. If you get them, it will be from another team.
- carcus

This. Sounds like Oilers would pay a lot, though they are probably on Miller's no trade list. Maybe Florida? Philly? Colorado just had their goalie arrested, maybe they'll be desperate for a replacement given their amazing start.

Guys,
There are reports the St Louis scouts have been at the last few Flyers games.

Any guesses as to the potential trade?