Miller Ranks Behind Only Hasek Among Sabres Goaltending Greats

“I know (Ryan) through USA Hockey, even more being part of that and (he is) arguably the greatest in that regard.” Sabres head coach Don Granato said on Thursday. “Tonight’s a big night beyond Buffalo for that reason because he meant so much to USA Hockey.”

Miller was a fifth-round selection of the Sabres in 1999 and played three seasons at Michigan State before turning pro in 2002. After splitting time between the American Hockey League and Buffalo his first two years, and playing a full year with Rochester during the NHL 2004-05 lockout, the lanky netminder led Buffalo to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. The following season, the Sabres reached the final four again before losing to the Ottawa Senators in five games.

In the club’s 53-year history, Miller ranks only behind Hasek (a six-time Vezina and first-team All-Star). The Hockey Hall-of-Famer helped the Sabres reach the Cup Final in 1999 before leaving for Detroit and winning two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings in 2002 and 2008. Tom Barrasso won the Calder (NHL Rookie of the Year) and Vezina Trophy as an 18-year-old after being selected fifth overall in the 1983 NHL Draft but was traded after six seasons to Pittsburgh, where he won consecutive Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. Don Edwards won the Vezina in 1980, when the Sabres lost to the NY Islanders in the Stanley Cup Semi-Final, while Roger Crozier was Buffalo’s first starting goalie after gaining entry to the NHL in 1970 and helped the Sabres reach their first Cup Final in 1975.