Bulletin: Miller deal gets done

No distractions come training camp: Five-year extension for Ryan Miller through 2013-14. Darcy Regier to meet the media at HSBC at 12:45. More to come

---Mike Harrington

Comments

[Matthew Kimel]

It's Miller time...haha...sorry I had to say that.

[Chad]

"I am so frusterated with this team b/c they were so close in 05, and did nothing to build on their sucess. Probably closer than they have ever been. It seems to me that they are a few players away from getting back to the 05 year and paying Miller top money does not help."

I agree with you that the '05 team was the best they had. Unfortunately, there is just no way Buffalo could have kept all of those players. In fact, the Sabres probably could not have even kept "most" of those guys. Just looking quickly, the guys who comprised the '05 team have Salary Cap numbers in the low $80 millions (that may be off by a mil or two, but you get the idea). The salary cap this year is $56.7 million. Surely you see how Buffalo couldn't have made that work, even if they signed some of those guys to the much talked about "discounts" that some of them would have been willing to take. That number climbs even more next year. It's just a pipe dream to think we could have similar talent under this cap with the way salaries are going.

Re: Miller. I don't think they paid him for the reasons you mentioned. I genuinely think the organization believes he can be a very good goaltender, provided he gets some intermittent rest. I tend to agree with that. Last year, he was just overworked. That can't happen this year. But if you asked me which goaltenders, I'd rather have than him, I'd be hard-pressed to give you ten of them. And, after some of the other goaltenders come up for free agency, I think that is where you'll see the Miller contract settle.

(And if you want to know which I think are "better": Brodeur, Luongo, Lundqvist, Turco, Nabokov, Kipper. After that, it's very debatable)

Re: Vanek. Again, I don't really fault them for that. His agent was seeking big offer sheets and he got one. Buffalo couldn't let a 23 year-old walk after scoring 42 goals. The guy has over 100 goals in his first three seasons as a pro and had 9 GW goals (more than Drury) last year. I question his effort at times, but there is no doubt he's a rare talent. He's highly compensated, but, at this rate, in a year or two, Vanek's contract may be considered a great deal given his production.

Bottom line, I think management catches a lot of crap for what happened in the last 13 months. They bungled the Drury situation, obviously. I have no problem with letting Briere walk if, in the end, it has allowed them to keep Roy and Pommers. The players just underachieved last year and lost confidence late in games. I think they'll be very good this year with the experience they gained last season. I also think they'll be a lot hungrier than they were coming into last year.

[michael]

OK Chad I'll agree with you on the fact that this game is a team sport. I'll agree that Buffalo's style definatley is not goaltender friendly. You have a great point about Pominville. However, I can't resist in responding to your comment about Broader and Lundquist not making the eastern conderence finals. You reference the answer in your response. This is a TEAM game. Buffalo has a better team than both the Devils and the Canucks. This is exactly why I don'ty agree with the win/loss stat associated with goalies. This is why Miller's win total does not accuratly reflect his performance. My whole argument was Miller is over rated. I definatley think he is a good goalie. He did play great in 2005. He is young and can improve. However, he is not worhty of top goalie money. Hasek was great, he could shut down a game. Miller is not, yet we paided him like he was. I am so frusterated with this team b/c they were so close in 05, and did nothing to build on their sucess. Probably closer than they have ever been. It seems to me that they are a few players away from getting back to the 05 year and paying Miller top money does not help. Briere for 7 mil, no way, Philly will regret that in a few years, Drury basically took advantage of us, I can't stand that guy. Campbell no way near his contract. Chicago will regret that too. But us signing Miller, because he is all we have, or he is the face of the Sabres, or people in Buffalo would be upset that another Sabre got away, is not being smart. It is reacting with your heart as aposed to good hockey sense. Miller is not worth the contract he signed, and I'm concerned that this will haunt the team for years to come. It's kind of like signed Vaneck to ridiculous moeny because of the Drury/Briere debocle. It's horrible justification. Is Vaneck talented, yes, is he worth 7 mil per year, no way. He has proven nothing! All I'm saying is the Sabres react, they don't prepare. They were afraid of the public backlash if they did not resign Miller, and I don't think that is the way you create a stanly cup winner.

[Chad]

Michael, if you're arguing that Miller needs to be better this year, I agree with you 100%. I can't tell you how many times I found myself complaining about Miller after games last year. That said, thinking Miller needs to play better next year and crucifying him for his performance the last three years are two entirely different things. He's played too well over the last three years to be ridiculed as he has on this board by some posters. But, like I said, I do think he needs to play better this year.

"If Miller is so great and better than all those other goalies. Why were we tenth? If he won so many games why didn't we make the playoffs?"

If Luongo is so great, why did Vancouver finish 11th and miss the playoffs. If Brodeur and Lundqvist are so great, why have neither even tasted the Eastern Conference Finals since the lockout? I hope you see the flaw in your argument. I'm not sure if you realize this, but hockey is a team sport. There's more to winning than just one player.

I maintain that Miller's numbers are what they are b/c of the system he plays in. Buffalo's wide open, go-for-it type of game is not friendly to goaltenders, the same as it is extremely friendly to offensive players. Do I think Pominville could put up 80 pts playing for the Minnesota Wild in their system? No chance. But I guarantee you that Nicklas Backstrom couldn't put up a 2.31 GAA and .920 SV % in Buffalo, either.

RECAP(so you don't try to change my argument): Miller needs to be better next year to earn this type of money. I refuse to crucify him for the last three seasons. The system hurts Miller's numbers, but still plays to the strengths of the Sabres organization, as a whole.

[michael]

Chad one more question. If Miller is so great and better than all those other goalies. Why were we tenth? If he won so many games why didn't we make the playoffs? By the way Luongo, Broader and Lundquist were just a few examples there are many more. Saying he just wins is ridculous. The team NEEDS to score multiple goals to win. God forbid they have a bad night and only score two. Late in the third up by a goal with 10 minutes to go, its anyone game. Miller won so many games because A) he was the only goalie that played, and B because the team was one of the highest scoring teams in the league. Hey NHL, 1 in 5 weak wrsit shots from just inside the blue line will go in. I bet the Rangers, Flyers, and soon to the list Blackhawks all know this.

[michael]

Your're right Chad, Miller's great! He definatly is worth the 6.5 mil. Great job Darcy. I guess your comfortable with tenth place in the east.

[Dave]

Well said, Chad.

[Don F]

"BTW, good thing you're not sewing the names on the jerseys."

Gotta give you credit, Chad. That's a good one.

[Chad]

"Hey Chad wake up."

I think all you guys have a website and just regurgitate the same phrases. It's like a broken record: wake up! newsflash! apologist! Sabres employee!

"It's people like you that justified what Darcy and the gang have done to this once great team."

I'm sure Darcy has a job because of people like me supporting him. Can't you just see Golisano going into Regier's office: "Darcy, your approval ratings are way up among Sabres bloggers this month. You can keep your job." What? Seriously?

By the way, it's worth noting that the "once great team" you referenced was put together by Darcy. An inconvenient fact for you, I know, but a fact nonetheless.

"Last time I checked Luongo, Lundquist, Broader all made the playoffs last year."

Check again, Luongo didn't make the playoffs and he's widely considered one of the top 2 or 3 netminders in the league. He must be "average" and "mediocre" like Miller. Between Brodeur and Lundqvist, they won one playoff series and went a combined 6-9 in the playoffs. Tremendous. Wow, you really showed me. BTW, good thing you're not sewing the names on the jerseys.

"Scoring 6 goals a game and losing doesn't mean squat. If winning 2-1 means WINNING I'll take it. Kind of like how we went to the cup in 99, when Hasek (an elite goalie) would single handedly shut down games."

Could you show me where I advocated scoring goals at the expense of winning? I simply said that, for those of harping on SV % and GAA as if it is some sort of be-all-end-all, if you want those better numbers from Miller, Buffalo will have to change its style of play to dropping four guys in front of the net to help Miller like how the Rangers do for Lundqvist. Do you really think that plays to Buffalo's strengths. My point is simply that if you want Miller to give up fewer goals, the inherent tradeoff is going to be Buffalo scoring fewer. I don't think you can correlate with any sort of statistical probablity that such a change will translate to more points for Buffalo.

BTW, thank you for pointing out that Hasek was an elite goaltender as if I was unaware. However, if we are going to start comparing netminders to Hasek circa 2000, could you tell me one goaltender in the league right now who is as good as Dom was then? I'll answer that one for you: nobody.

"Miller was at this best in 2005. He has progressively gotten worse."

Wow, thanks for enlightening us that 40-16 in 2006 is worse than 30-14 in 2005.

" I'm not saying he isn't good, he is overrated. He is not elite, he is not top 5 or even top 10, he can not single handedly shut down games, and he is not worht 6.54 mil."

I can see you're fighting the urge to just come out and say "all he does is win but doesn't put up great numbers." Just like all Cris Carter did was catch Touchdowns. In 2 or 3 years when guys like Turco, Leclaire, Backstrom, et al, sign their next contract, Miller will fall back to around the 10th highest paid goaltender, closer to where he belongs. This contract is what the market is bearing right now. Don't blame the increase in salaries on Miller for being more highly paid than some of the other guys who may be better than him.

"Any attempt to justify shows how clueless you are."

Translation: Please, please don't disprove my emotional, irrational argument with facts. Well, too late. I love how you guys think the whole "if you argue with me, you're just be a clueless, Sabres apologist" argument holds any water, as if it is going to scare me or people of the same mind as me from posting. Newsflash Mikey: you're a hater, you'll always be a hater, and your arguments are weak.

[Mike In Florida]

I can't bite my tongue anymore, $6.25 million a year for 5 years, that is crazy stupid money and crazy stupid years for a goalie that is way overrated. He gives up at least two goals a game, can't win a shoot out to save his life. Then Darcy says Miller will improve what does that mean? If he isn't that good and has to improve why pay him the big money now, give him a 2 or 3 year contract and see if he improves. I don't dislike Miller I just think that he is not as good as everybody thinks he is. I will get off my soapbox now

[michael]

Hey Chad wake up. It's people like you that justified what Darcy and the gang have done to this once great team. Last time I checked Luongo, Lundquist, Broader all made the playoffs last year. Scoring 6 goals a game and losing doesn't mean squat. If winning 2-1 means WINNING I'll take it. Kind of like how we went to the cup in 99, when Hasek (an elite goalie) would single handedly shut down games. News flash Chad we were one of the highest scoring teams last year, if not the highest. We finished 10th in the east and missed the playoffs. By the way this fan has been preaching the trade Miller chant for quit some time now and would not have blinked if it happened. Miller was at this best in 2005. He has progressively gotten worse. I'm not saying he isn't good, he is overrated. He is not elite, he is not top 5 or even top 10, he can not single handedly shut down games, and he is not worht 6.54 mil. Plain and simple. Any attempt to justify shows how clueless you are.

[Chad]

Right, b/c if they traded him or let him walk, the same people wouldn't have been lining up to spout their old, reliable "management let another get away!!" Nothing pleases those people. This reaction to the Miller deal from the haters was predictable. If Miller got away, those same people wouldn't have been ripping management.

Miller will be the 5th highest paid goaltender this year. He has the 5th most amount of wins of any goaltender since the lockout (behind Brodeur, Kiprusoff, Luongo, Turco). Go figure, funny how that works. Wins are what matters, not save % or GAA. You don't get points for those two things.

And for those of you who want Miller to have a GAA and SV % of guys like Nabokov, Kipper, Lundqvist, and Luongo, it comes at a price. Those teams drop 3 or 4 guys back in front of their goaltenders. In other words, Miller could probably put up those numbers if you were fine with Buffalo playing 2-1 games every night. Look at the this stat and tell me you can't see why teams have higher quality chances against Miller than they do against those defense-first teams whose strategies help their goaltenders tremendously. Goals the last two years:

Buffalo (563)
Calgary (487)
San Jose (480)
NY Rangers (458)
Vancouver (435)

Hooray for 2-1 hockey games!!

[michael]

Come on guys stop thinking with your hearts and start evaluating with good hockey sense. Miller is way overrated! Henry is right. The stats prove he isn't even one of the top ten goalies in the league. He is good for at least one soft goal per game. The bottom line is he is going to get paid like an elite goalie and he simple is not elite. Do people in Buffalo remember Dominic Hasek? He was dominate, he was elite. Patrick Roy, Marty Broader, Ed Belfore they were elite and they got top goalie money at the time. Miller is not even close to those guys let alone Lundquist, Nabakov, Luongo etc etc.. Say all you want about how this is a good deal for both sides, how it's not that much money so on and so on. Bottom line top goalie money for not a top goalie. This was a horrible deal. They should have traded him, got a ton of draft picks and built the team for the future.

[sabrefaninjersey]

Hey Henry, you seem to be in love with Lundquist..go on Ebay and get a nice poster you can hang on your wall, look at every so often. Then you can ignore this blog and leave the rest of us Sabre fans alone....And Roy did not step up last year?? Are you for real?? the dude had a great year......get a real life and understand the game...

[Chad]

"come on dave your so smart, please staistically show me where this is a good deal, i'm waiting."
-Henry

I'll do that if you show me, statistically, how it would have been a good deal to pay $7 mil/year for Danny Briere. Hell, show me, statistically, how it would have been a good deal to pay $5 mil/year for Mr. Minus-22.

Apples and oranges, I guess, because there is nothing "average" or "mediocre" about a -22.

[lou]

the sabres need:

-hire back the scouts
-hire an offensive-minded assistant coach
-run & gun offensive strategy
-old school uniforms
-cheerleaders
-a few goons that can score a few goals, because peters is useless.

[goal10der44]

"the you tube shows what we all know alfredson went through 3 defenseman and scored on a soft goal. Every time someone scores on Ryan it's 'he was screened'."

Have you ever played goalie, or hockey for that matter? I'm telling you, as a goalie that plays 3x week, he did not see that shot because Campbells' soon-to-be even fatter wallet was in his way. And really, your excuse that he went through 3 Dmen to get there doesn't even hold up because you're also crying about how we let our "best defenseman go" and Campbell was the last person before Miller to have a chance to stop him. So which is it? Was it Miller's fault for not being able to see it properly? Or was it Campbell's fault for not getting the stop before that ever occurred? Pick your poison.

Marko - excellent comparison and hopefully, that'll answer those critics (probably not, but I can dream right?).

[Sean]

LETS GO BUFFALO!!!!!!!!

[jan]

they were going to have to spend more $$ to keep Miller based on what the current market value is for goalies. Now that's it's done, Miller should be working toward improving his stats and help move this team forward. He's got a long way to go to reach "elite" status (and he may never get there). He's shown he can steal games, etc. They need to play Lalime more often to give Miller a break -- he can't handle playing 70+ games. If Enroth works hard in Portland and earns his way to Buffalo, that'll keep Miller on his toes to keep the #1 goalie spot.

[marko]

Using ONLY stat that means anything:

Last Year...
Miller 36-27-10
Lundqvist 37-24-10

Career...
Miller 112-68-16 (205 gms)
Lundqvist 105-58-18 (195 gms)

comparable stats, comparable compensation, any questions?

[Rick]

How many Cups does Lundqvist have? Or Luongo? Or Nabokov? Fact is, goalies do get better. A scorer needs to worry about 30-40 goalies. Goalies need to scout close to 200 scorers. You're basing this on one season where the entire team was subpar. If you don't sign Miller, someone else would have been glad to, possibly for considerably more money. Call me when you actually know something about the game of hockey- not to mention its economics.

[Dom]

FYI, Henry/Bucky - Your beloved
Lundqvist (overrated even for a Ranger) has never gotten his "loaded" team out of the 2nd round.

[not fade away]

henry, all i ask is that you tell me the cup-winning, vezina-winning, affordable goaltender available on the market today and i will agree that darcy dropped the ball.

vezina winners since 2001: brodeur, theodore, kiprusoff. should the sabres have signed theodore? the rest are kind of locked up.

cup-winning goalies since 2001: osgood, giguere, cam ward, khabibulin, hasek. with the exception of maybe giggy, i'd take miller over all of them.

so the only cup-winning, vezina-winning goalie on the market is hasek. if you want to argue about the sabres' mistakes of 2000-2001, then maybe you have a point. although hasek was a little difficult, and the owver kind of went to prison, which slightly impacted the franchise.

the bottom line: if you are unwilling to accept that the miller deal is fair-market value for a reasonably accomplished, reasonably talented goalie, then you have to have an alternative. you don't. you just bash away and throw out stats that, like any set of stats, can be as damaging or as useless as you care to interpret them.

if you just want to hate on the sabres, do it somewhere else. it gets so boring to hear from people who just complain and complain and complain.

[jif]

dude, get a life.

[Henry]

I have valid stats to back up everything i say. 22nd in GA and 29th in Sv percentage. no stanley cups. It's all i need to know. The sabres are gambling, i say they picked the wrong horse. I'm listening to Farcy right now and he feels Ryan will improve. 28 year olds generally dont' improve. If your 24-25 maybe. His stats cry out average and that's what he's been he had his shot against carolina and Ottawa and failed. He lacks the mental makeup and is fragile. your throwing Goalies at me like toskala & Depietro on two of the worst teams in the NHL? What a reach. When Ryan wins a vezina talk to me about how great a deal this is. He's average stop living in denial.

[Rick]

Henry, good to see you won't be at the Arena next year- leave the seats for people who actually understand the game. You would rather give that type of money to Fleury? There were times last season where they weren't sure he was the #1 goalie in Pittsburgh! Miller had a GAA better than Kiprusoff, Toskala, and DiPietro. He was in the top 10 for wins, and a save percentage equal to or better than them. For 2006-07, Miller was 3rd in wins and had a save percentage equivalent to Kiprusoff, Lundqvist, Giguere. For 2005-06, he was equal to Giguere, Ludqvist and DiPietro in wins. His GAA was similar to Brodeur's and Turoo and better than Giguere's and Nabokov. His save percentage was equal to Luongo's, better than Brodeur and Giguere's, and right behind Lundqvist. Lundqvist is set to make $6.875 million for the same time period. A contract for $6.25 a year is not out of line for the market. It was a good signing for your 1st string goalie, and one who has done what Miller's done. He played 76 games last year and no doubt ran out of gas, not to mention the personal issues he dealt with at the start of the season. Before you whine about personnel moves, give some thought to what you're saying. In the meantime, Henry, we'll all enjoy going to games without morons like you taking up space and wasting oxygen.

[jif]

wow henry, 3 hours of blogging? congrats.

[jif]

because im eating lunch and have to go to work in an hour. got ya!

[Henry]

JIF,

why are you wasting the same summer day writing about me? got ya

[Henry]

the you tube shows what we all know alfredson went through 3 defenseman and scored on a soft goal. Every time someone scores on Ryan it's "he was screened". Stop making excuses. Just like the injury excuse why we lost to Carolina

[Don H]

No more whining about letting another key player go unsigned. That's a relief! Now the tune changes: too much money for an average goalie. You can please some of the people most of the time, but....

[jif]

if henry hates this team so much then why is he wasting a perfect summer day on his computer blogging about it?

[goal10der44]

Watch it again and you'll see that Miller didn't see it quite the way you do.

Here, Ill even post the link for you.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Joth4Q55YEI

[Henry]

I heard aq darcy interview where he said "miller will improve". Based on what? How many 28 year old goalies "improve"? It's liek saying a 7 year old horse will "show more promise". Ryan is old enough where you know what your getting and it's 2.69 & .908 not good enough, nice try though Farcy

[goal10der44]

Hey, you know what's funny...

I just watched the clip of Alfredsson scoring that goal again and guess who the defenseman was that was screening Miller? Mr. 8yr/56.8M Chicago Blackhawk. (Brian Campbell for the unintelligent out there)

[Henry]

alfredson weaved through about 4 defenseman and beat miller soundly on a soft goal. Campbell as "bad" as he was in your eyes, was and would be our best defenseman and a bargain at 5 and 25. But i'm sure Rivet will match his stats this year.

[Henry]

jb,

at least i can afford a TV that size and resolution, as for the other part, that seems enough to keep your old lady happy..

[goal10der44]

Hey, you know what's funny...

I just watched the clip of Alfredsson scoring that goal again and guess who the defenseman was that was screening Miller? Mr. 8yr/56.8M Chicago Blackhawk. (Brian Campbell for the unintelligent out there)

[JB2]

Didn't I hear somewhere that the size of a man's tv is inversely related to the size of his...

[Henry]

Dude, don't worry i won't be near the HSBC because i don't support losing hockey teams that don't make the playoffs. i'll gladly spend the $2,400 on many other things and be happy about it and STILL watch the games on my 50" 1080p plasma, best of all worlds my friend. As far as Green bay Favre is toast, Rodgers has godo upside and can easilly be the next Romo

[Henry]

It is not a matter of learning from mistakes. you make choices who to retain, who to let go. Mckee said in a interview both he and Brier would have signed long term, Drury & campbell you could have had. You were forced to overpay for vanek and now really forced to pay Miller more than he's worth because of past screw ups. I would have insisted on a shorter deal. If he balked, i could trade him for a young goalie as Tamps did and top prospects or players to help. the defection of key players has exposed Ryan as Average which stats support. sorry guys

[goal10der44]

Loser? That wasn't even a coherent post! Until you mentioned the part about Max and Connolly, I didn't even realize you were responding to me!

I think we were actually agreeing when I said that Connolly and Max will be gone next season and this signing almost guarantees that. Had you taken a moment to calm down from your senseless rage, you might have understood that.

Seriously Henry, please don't come anywhere near HSBC Arena or the bandwagon that will be rolling through town around December or January (if they can get through that ridiculous stretch of games), we don't need any more "fans" (and I'm using that term VERY loosely) like you. I think these posts have shown just how much of a fan you truly are.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go rant to the Green Bay fans about how they should let Brett Favre unretire and become their starting QB for the next 5 years because Aaron Rodgers isn't as good as some guy they could've drafted but didn't. (In case you don't understand, that's sarcasm.)

[Rock]

I think Craig, Geoffrey and the pragmatic fans out there have the right take. The price was a higher than he probobly is worth ( I think he is a very good 5 mil per goalie.) But without another option, the rate of rising salaries and yes, the PR perception with other high profile losses it was a good move.

I still believe he is an above average goaltender - and the statistics which I have posted ad nauseum prove it. He frustrates the heck out of me because he consistently gives up a soft goal a game. Therefore his team MUST score at least two to win.

BUT... if you look at the way salaries keep going I believe there is a new model for the NHL. Identify the players who you believe will keep value and sign them to the long term deal. Does this mean you have to keep them for the full term of the contract? NO Get use out the player and move him down the road - when he will be a bargain for another team who wants him for more assets. I think this should have been done with Campbell as well - go ahead and give him the fifth or sixth year that he wanted and who knows maybe you trade him after three?

The money being thrown at the aging veterans this offseason has convinced me that this is the way to go - that long term contract for certain players is going to be a bargain half-way through term and the player can net you more in return by trade.

[Mike C]

I've been one of the ones relentlessly bashing the organization for the Druriere fiasco...

... but give them credit for finally "getting it" and locking up a core player before he gets to FA. I still wish they would have done this 3 years ago, but hey, at least they've learned from past mistakes.

[Henry]

Hambone, all i know is Miller was on the Golf course last year mainly because of his poor performance in regular season as well as shootout embarassments. As far as Lundqvist the stats scream out who's better and it's not ryan.

[Henry]

smart move? If you want to argue he can keep you in games fine, but win a cup? He's given you no indication he can. But you say Max and connoly buh buy, let's see it! I'd rather release max or get a 5th rounder than have that cancer on my team. JB go on WGR and tell Schillp how great Larry and Darcy are and go paint your face and stand outside the HSBC till the opener. No one forces you on this post, loser.

[Hambone Johnson]

So Henry - your argument is that Miller wasn't highly touted when he was drafted. True. But then you go on to praise Lundquist....even though both were selected in the 5th or 6th rounds of their respective drafts. So what is your point? Lundquist is a god and Miller stinks. Yet when the real games are played, Miller won 4 of 6 against Lundquist's Rangers. And what exactly has Henrik accomplished in the postseason? Just a couple first round wins over Atlanta and New Jersey. Whoop-di-doo.

So after all that, it's important to note that Lundquist still makes more money than Miller. So again....tell me how this is a bad deal...

[JB2]

Ok, First, Henry, bringing up the cousin, whether the argument has merit or not, is classless and tasteless. Second, The fact that other teams looked over Miller at the draft is utterly meaningless. Trevor Kidd was taken in the draft before Martin Brodeur. Several hundred players were taken before Henrik Zetterberg, you know, Conn Smythe winner? IF you're going to argue a position, fine, but do something more that argue for the sake of arguing you classless jerk.

[goal10der44]

I think Henry needs to get a life and get off from posting something every time someone else makes a valid point.

First off Henry, he's not Lundqvist, I know that and he got less than Lundqvist money, so what's your point when comparing their stats? And when was the last time Lundqvist was in the ECF 2 years in a row? What's that? He hasn't? Oh, that's right.

Second, the Alfredsson goal, if you watch the same replay I did, the view from behind the goal, or even the view being shown when it happened, you can tell he was partially screened because he just didn't react as though he knew the shot was coming. I can speak from experience that that particular shot is a difficult one to see sometimes; right handed shot, moving to the goalies' left and the defenseman is moving right along with the puck and your eyes. It was not as soft a goal as people (especially you) are making it out to be.

Last, someone made the point that the new salary doesn't kick in until next season, with a difference of only 2.75M, which is less the cost of Connolly (buh-bye!) and Afinogenov (later!).

This was a very smart financial move, though I will say that I believe they slightly overpaid. I would've gone up to 6M, but I'll take this deal and look forward to seeing him be our goalie for the next 6 seasons.

[Henry]

Sabres fan, get the facts strait, miller last year was actually better than his career stats!!! What you see is what you get

last year 2.64 .906
career 2.69 .908

there is no miracle of "get him rest and he's elite"! He had Marty and still had similar stats.

what good does the shootout stats from 2 years ago mean now? Has he really been the same since Matt died?