Fleury just bitch-slapped Miller

[jlpubarch]

7 for 35.

Take that Miller...

1) You're no Henrik Lundqvist, never been nominated for a Vezina, never will.

2) You're in the same boat as Marc-Andre Fleury and he just signed for less than 6 mils per year.

You're save % and GAA aren't all that good...

If Miller wants 6.5+, I hope Darcy tells him to take a hike.

[TommyV26]

I bet Fleury got a call from Ryan's agent saying, "You F()&*( retard we coulda got more money if you woulda made Pitt open the wallets wider!"

[B LO]

I think Fleury was much further from unrestricted free agency than Miller. Therefore Miller would probably have more leverage than Fleury in contract talks.

[SHINEdown30]

Miller is better than Fleury. Fleury was benched in the playoffs last year. Miller led his team to the ECF. If you think Fleury is better or about the same your a douche. Sry but it's true.

[ICRockets]

Miller is better than Fleury. Fleury was benched in the playoffs last year. Miller led his team to the ECF. If you think Fleury is better or about the same your a douche. Sry but it's true.

Statistically, Miller was unimpressive. And we already can infer Darcy's feelings in that regard, due to his comments about Huet's deal. He's probably thanking the stars that after that we now have a premier team in the league signing their franchise goaltender to a 5 mil a year deal. Darcy Regier can, will, and should use everything he has at his disposal to get Miller to sign a sub-6 million dollar contract.

[SHINEdown30]

Statistically, Miller was unimpressive. And we already can infer Darcy's feelings in that regard, due to his comments about Huet's deal. He's probably thanking the stars that after that we now have a premier team in the league signing their franchise goaltender to a 5 mil a year deal. Darcy Regier can, will, and should use everything he has at his disposal to get Miller to sign a sub-6 million dollar contract.

Stats are not everything. But Fleury is not Miller!

[ICRockets]

Stats are not everything. But Fleury is not Miller!

What a spectacular argument. Thank you for your contribution.

[billsfan69]

Miller is better than Fleury. Fleury was benched in the playoffs last year. Miller led his team to the ECF. If you think Fleury is better or about the same your a douche. Sry but it's true.

And Fleury led his team to the finals this year, while Miller didn't even make the playoffs. Actually Fleury's deal is more in line for what Miller deserves than Lundquist's deal.

[foster]

Miller will get something between 5.5 and 6.5 depending on the length. Fleury will help the Sabres in the $ per year, but will hurt in the contract length area - 7 years!

I think we'll see Miller get close to 6/36 which would be fair. I'm not sure if I want Ryan under contract for 7. It's very hard for a goalie to play that well that long in the NHL.

[SHINEdown30]

And Fleury led his team to the finals this year, while Miller didn't even make the playoffs. Actually Fleury's deal is more in line for what Miller deserves than Lundquist's deal.

With of course the help of Malkin,stall,orpik,hossa,gonchar,malone, oh yeah and Crosby.

Miller had no defense and the offense folded.

[SHINEdown30]

What a spectacular argument. Thank you for your contribution.

Thats the argument you were going towards.

[deconstruction]

I'd say that they are roughly equivalent.

[TheAnswer74]

With of course the help of Malkin,stall,orpik,hossa,gonchar,malone, oh yeah and Crosby.

Miller had no defense and the offense folded.

Miller still had more fire power as help, even this season he had more goals.

[comericatigers]

Miller had a tough season. Let's give the guy a break and see what happens this year with a bigger commitment to defense and T-Blow being gone. He will fetch 6 million a season and I still would not be surprised if he doesn't sign with Buffalo.

[billsfan69]

With of course the help of Malkin,stall,orpik,hossa,gonchar,malone, oh yeah and Crosby.

Miller had no defense and the offense folded.

That argument I can give you. Personally I think Miller should get 5.5 million a year, which is more than Fleury, but less than Lundquist.

[camian]

You can certainly use comparable salaries as a gauge to determine what Miller is worth but don't overlook the question "how important is Miller to Buffalo?". Regardless of what you personally think of Miller's abilities, I'm not sure the Sabres can withstand the bad P.R. at this point for refusing to resign another of their key players, especially a goalie. As much as anything Miller is going to benefit from the Sabres not resigning Drury, Briere and the Campbell "trade/salary dump".

[skoorah720]

I'd start out with Fleury's deal and see what they offer back. In the end I bet Miller gets roughly 5.75 mil a year for 5 or 6 years. That's right in the middle of Fleury's deal and Lundqvist's deal.

[shotgun]

miller had a horrable year this past year tords the end of the season, when we had to make our run,

[sukie]

Miller is better than Fleury. Fleury was benched in the playoffs last year. Miller led his team to the ECF. If you think Fleury is better or about the same your a douche. Sry but it's true.

What did Miller do last year?

[IlluminatusUIUC]

You can certainly use comparable salaries as a gauge to determine what Miller is worth but don't overlook the question "how important is Miller to Buffalo?". Regardless of what you personally think of Miller's abilities, I'm not sure the Sabres can withstand the bad P.R. at this point for refusing to resign another of their key players, especially a goalie. As much as anything Miller is going to benefit from the Sabres not resigning Drury, Briere and the Campbell "trade/salary dump".

I think this is important to note too. The Sabres play second fiddle in the Buffalo market and so they can't coast on mediocrity (like our northern neighbors) and still fill the seats. They need to manage PR well. Unless Miller craps the bed this year, letting him walk for Lalime and Enroth would be a PR disaster.

[sclucinski]

you have to remeber there was no backup goalie, he had no rest. They can't afford not to sign him.

[SHINEdown30]

What did Miller do last year?

He had a shit year.Theres alot of extras to it. Just don't blame Miller. Its like a qb, he throws an interception its his fault all the time? Mikka played like shit too. I dont see Calgary running him out of town?

What did Fleury do so well? He played 35 games(solid amount for a starter) and was outshined by Conklin.

[Billieve]

I would be suprised if Miller gets a contract that pays him more then Lundqvist and suprised if he is paid less then Fleury, I think he will fall in between somewhere without a doubt. Miller is a stud, he just needs some defense in front of him, not a bunch of panzys that cant clear the crease or stick up for him.

[sukie]

He had a shit year.Theres alot of extras to it. Just don't blame Miller. Its like a qb, he throws an interception its his fault all the time? Mikka played like shit too. I dont see Calgary running him out of town?

What did Fleury do so well? He played 35 games(solid amount for a starter) and was outshined by Conklin.

Then you cannot assign credit for the ECFs either... Fair is fair.

[lavuuk153]

Fleury is also 4 years younger than Miller, so while Miller is entering his prime, Fleury won't be hitting his until the middle of this contract.

[3LH]

I honestly don't think the dollars per year is going to be the big issue in the Miller negotiations. It will be the length. Frankly, I would be ok if Miller got exactly the same contract as Fleury. It would be a compromise between dollars per year and overall length. He'd be about 35 at the end of the deal. 35 is not old for a top 10 goalie. Goalies with top 10 skill can have long successful careers.

If that's not doable, sign him for 4/26 and let him finish his career at home.

[billsfan69]

What did Miller do last year?

He was having his best statistical year until Ruff burned him out. Miller isn't built like the goalies like Luongo and Brodeur that can play 75 games a year. Look at his stats the last three years. His numbers have gotten worse as he has had to play more. We need a backup who can play around 20 games.

[TommyV26]

Home teams seem to offer contracts for what have you done for me lately. Other teams offer on track record. We will have to see if Ryan will settle inbetween there to stay in buffalo. I think he will end up getting around 6-6.25 for x amount of years.... but the question for me is where... i still hope its buffalo.

[CBennett]

7 for 35.

Take that Miller...

1) You're no Henrik Lundqvist, never been nominated for a Vezina, never will.

2) You're in the same boat as Marc-Andre Fleury and he just signed for less than 6 mils per year.

You're save % and GAA aren't all that good...

If Miller wants 6.5+, I hope Darcy tells him to take a hike.

I LOVED that contract and good post. Now I LIKE Miller he is a fine goalie..but just as you said..he is NOT a Elite goalie and probably never will be..just has that penchant for giving up that soft goal or last minute goal somehow to ruin a shutout attempt..I hope we DO sign him but not for any ridiculous kind of $$$, he will probably make a BIT more than MAF but not much more NOR SHOULD HE..if he demands more do a Campbell with him and get what you can and let him go. He is a above average goalie but not Elite.

[CBennett]

He was having his best statistical year until Ruff burned him out. Miller isn't built like the goalies like Luongo and Brodeur that can play 75 games a year. Look at his stats the last three years. His numbers have gotten worse as he has had to play more. We need a backup who can play around 20 games.

well its hard to rest a guy when your management team brings in a sieve as your backup....should have done what I said...just kept the guy we had...looked pretty good in backup in Pitt last year..the guy we got was NOT a upgrade. Hopefully the guy we got now is better..i think he is but...i am hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

[Papaduke]

Fleury has played well for a season and he was injured for part of it. Conklin did a better job in Pittsburgh. Plus he had an all star team in front of him. That he got 5 million per for 7 years actually makes me concerned for the case Miller can make.