NHL: Top 4 aging goalies who are headed to new teams

Ryan Miller

With the 138th pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Level Draft, the Buffalo Sabres selected Ryan Miller, a native of East Lansing, Michigan. After being drafted, it took him four years to make it to the NHL and another two seasons and a lockout (2004-05) to finally become a key piece to the Sabres franchise.

Over his 11 seasons in Buffalo, he was a warrior. Opponents knew that regardless of the team in front of him, it would be a tough night in the goals department.

In the 2009-10 campaign, Miller had a season like no other, posting a .929 SV% and a 2.22 GAA in 69 games. This season ended with a Vezina Trophy. He also came in fourth place in the vote for the Hart Trophy.

In his time in upstate New York, he helped the Sabres to four playoff appearances, posting a .917 SV% and a 2.57 GAA in 47 games. The farthest his team would go was the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the Ottawa Senators in five games. In 2012, Miller broke Dominik Hasek’s franchise record for most wins by a goaltender.

In 2013, he would pick up his first and only fighting major of his NHL career, as he dropped the gloves with Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Jonathan Bernier during a preseason game.

In Feb. 2014, Miller and teammate Steve Ott would be traded to the St. Louis Blues for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015, and a third-round pick in 2016.

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It was weird to see Miller in a new uniform, as he was the guy who came to mind when you thought of the Sabres since becoming a star with them. After playing 19 regular-season games for the Blues, including a first-round exit after six games to the Minnesota Wild, Miller decided to sign a three-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks.

In Vancouver, Miller posted a .914 SV% with a 2.69 GAA in 150 games. With the Canucks, Miller would only make the playoffs one time, again another first-round exit in 2014-15.

Following the 2016-17 campaign, Miller at the age of 37, joined the Anaheim Ducks on a two-year deal. His role would no longer be as a starter, andhe understood that. While his playing time was limited over that span, averaging just under 24 games played per season, he was still doing what he loved.

Last season, on Feb. 17, Miller recorded career-win number 385 to become the winningest US-born goaltender of all-time, passing John Vanbiesbrouck, coincidentally a Michigan-native as well.

This win would be a huge one for Miller, who had not played much that season due to a knee injury. He actually had to wait over two months between win number 384 and 385.

I think this means the end of Ryan Miller’s career. And what a career it has been.