Goaltender Ryan Miller is now off the free agent market, signing with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The 33-year-old’s contract is a 3 year deal and has an annual average value (AAV) of $6 million/year.
Miller split the 2013-2014 NHL season with both the Buffalo Sabres and the St. Louis Blues, compiling a record of 25-30-4 in 59 appearances and a 2.64 goals-against average. Although his win/loss ratio wasn’t too impressive, keep in mind that he was playing under a lackluster team with the Sabres and an injury-plagued roster in St. Louis.
He signed a contract with the Sabres back in 2008 worth $31.25 million for a length of five years after an astonishing 40-win season, which had ushered him into the upper-echelon of netminders at that time. The 2010 Vezina Trophy winner was perhaps the top unrestricted free agent goaltender of this year’s offseason as he has amassed 284 wins in 540 career games in the National Hockey League.
Despite his aging status, Miller can still put up solid numbers for a team that can hold down the fort defensively. The 5th round pick in the 1999 NHL Draft has a save percentage of .915 throughout his 11-year tenure.
It was revealed that Miller had two requirements for his eventual destination according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie: to be a contender, and to be preferably south of the 49th parallel. Seeing as Vancouver fits the ideal description, it is no surprise that he winded up there.
Ryan Miller has never won the Stanley Cup, and as he realizes his most dominant play is behind him, he hopes to have a memorable season come October with his new team.
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