| Ryan Miller | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Miller with theSt. Louis Blues in 2014 | |||
| Born | (1980-07-17)July 17, 1980 (age 44) East Lansing, Michigan, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 168 lb (76 kg; 12 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Buffalo Sabres St. Louis Blues Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | 138th overall,1999 Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Playing career | 2002–2021 | ||
Ryan Dean Miller (born July 17, 1980) is an American formerice hockeygoaltender who played 18 seasons in theNational Hockey League (NHL) mostly for theBuffalo Sabres. Miller was drafted 138th overall by theBuffalo Sabres in the1999 NHL Entry Draft. In 2010, he won theVezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. Miller was the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history from February 2019 until March 2024, when he was passed byJonathan Quick.[1] In January 2023, Miller was inducted into theBuffalo Sabres Hall Of Fame, and his #30 was retired.
He was selected to play for theUnited States in the2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver as the team's starting goaltender.[2] He won a silver medal with the team and was named most valuable player of the tournament. Four years later, he was selected for the2014 Winter Olympics. Miller is one of 39 goaltenders in NHL history towin 300 games in his career.
Miller is known for hishybrid style of goaltending. He is the older brother of former NHL forwardDrew Miller.
Miller grew up inEast Lansing, Michigan. He started playing youth hockey in California. In youth hockey, Miller originally played as a forward, however, Miller became frustrated with the poor play of his team's goaltender, so he begged his coach as well as his father, Dean Miller, to let him try it out. His father told him that if he could get two goals and three assists the next game he would buy Ryan a catching glove. Miller finished the game with two goals and three assists in the win.[3] His brotherDrew and cousinsKelly,Kevin andKip all played in the NHL. All five attendedMichigan State University, where Ryan Miller played goaltender for three years.[4]
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After three seasons with Michigan State, Miller moved to theAmerican Hockey League (AHL), where he played for theBuffalo Sabres' affiliate, theRochester Americans, from the 2002–03 season until the 2004–05 season. During the 2002–03 season, he played 15 regular season games for Buffalo. In the 2004–05 season, with the NHL not playing due to alockout, he won 41 games for the Americans, tyingGerry Cheevers' record. He finished the season with a 2.45 GAA.
In 2004–05, the Americans were the North Division and Regular Season champions in the AHL. They lost in the division finals, however, to theManitoba Moose.
Miller finished the2005–06 season by establishing himself as the starting goaltender for the Sabres. He ranked 11th among NHL goaltenders with a 2.60 GAA and ninth in asave percentage, with .914. Miller led the Sabres to a surprise season, winning 30 games and advancing to the conference finals.
After the 2005–06 season, Miller became a restricted free agent and waived his right to arbitration.Mike Liut, Miller's agent, continued to negotiate with the Sabres through the summer. On September 8, 2006, the Sabres announced that they had re-signed Miller to a three-year contract.
The 2006–07 season would prove a successful one. In his first season starting with the number one job, Miller and his team won the first 10 games in a row. Miller was voted the starting goaltender for theEastern Conference of the2007 NHL All-Star Game. In a 12–9 loss, Miller played the first period and allowed three goals. Miller also gained a reputation of a shootout specialist with his technique of challenging the shooter outside the crease. That season he was 10–4 in shootouts, withMartin Brodeur of theNew Jersey Devils being his closest rival at 10 wins and 6 losses. In 63 games played that season, Miller posted a .911 save percentage and a 2.72 GAA backing a more offensively-oriented team.
In the post-season of that year, the Sabres advanced to their second conference finals in as many years, losing to theOttawa Senators in five games. Miller posted a .922 save percentage and 2.22 GAA in the playoffs.
On October 11, the Sabres won their second home game of the 2007–08 season with a 6–0 win over theAtlanta Thrashers. Miller earned a shutout, stopping 20 shots in a game following the death of his 18-year-old cousin, Matt, who had died the Monday before of a complication with a bone-marrow transplant. At the close of the game, Miller raised his stick to the home crowd in tribute and received star honors for his effort in net.
On January 1, 2008, Miller played with the Sabres in theAMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, which was the first outdoor NHL game to be held in the United States. The game was played atRalph Wilson Stadium, home toNational Football League'sBuffalo Bills, inOrchard Park, New York. The Sabres lost in a shoot-out to thePittsburgh Penguins, but Miller only allowed one goal (out of 25 shots) in regulation. On March 28, Miller played in his 73rd game of the season, breaking the Sabres franchise record for most games played in a season, passingGrant Fuhr,Dominik Hašek andMartin Biron. Miller finished the season with 76 games played, recording a 2.64 GAA and a .906 save percentage.
On July 18, 2008, Miller signed a five-year contract extension worth $31.25 million[5] with the Sabres. The contract took effect at the start of the 2009–10 season. Miller suffered a high-end ankle sprain on February 22, 2009, in a game against theNew York Rangers, which kept him out of action until late March. Despite Miller's strong 34–18–6 record during the2008–09 season, the Sabres narrowly missed out on qualifying for a playoff berth.
Miller's popularity in both Buffalo and for American hockey has spawned several nicknames, including "Miller Time" (after theMiller brewing company's advertising slogan), while theToronto media has nicknamed him the "Leaf Killer: Ryan Miller" for his excellent success against one of the Sabres top rivals, theToronto Maple Leafs.
In the2009–10 season, Miller played exceptionally, with a GAA of under 2.00 before the Olympic break. He finished the season with a 2.22 GAA and a .929 save percentage. He led the Buffalo Sabres to a Northeast Division title and posted 41 wins, breaking his former record of 40 wins posted in 2006–07. His play became even more popular around the U.S after being nominated for theVezina Trophy for the league's best goaltender. On June 23, 2010, inLas Vegas, Nevada, at the 2010 NHL Award Ceremony, Miller was announced as the winner of the 2010 Vezina Trophy, beating New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur andPhoenix Coyotes goaltenderIlya Bryzgalov. That same night, Miller also became the first American player to win theNHL Foundation Player Award.
Late in the2010–11 season, on March 29, 2011, during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite finishing the game in a 4–3 losing cause,[6] Miller suffered what was later reported to be an "upper body injury."[7] Initial speculation on the specifics of Miller's injury ranged from a concussion resulting from aBrian Rolston shot that rang off his mask, to a bruised collarbone from aDion Phaneuf shot.[8]On February 4, 2012, Miller surpassed Dominik Hašek as the franchise leader in career wins with 235 in a 4–3 shootout win against theNew York Islanders atNassau Coliseum. Miller accomplished this feat in six-and-a-half years as the starting goaltender for Buffalo, while it took Hašek nine years.[9]
The2012–13 NHL season did not go well for the Sabres, as they finished 12th in theEastern Conference and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year.[10] Miller finished the season with a 2.81 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
On February 28, 2014, Miller and forwardSteve Ott were traded from the Sabres to theSt. Louis Blues in exchange forJaroslav Halák,Chris Stewart,William Carrier and two future draft picks.[11] He would make his Blues debut along with Ott on March 3, stopping 23 shots in a 4–2 victory over thePhoenix Coyotes. Miller and the Blues lost in the first round of the2014 Stanley Cup playoffs to the defending2013 Stanley Cup champions, theChicago Blackhawks.
On May 19, the Blues signedBrian Elliott to a three-year contract and Blues General ManagerDoug Armstrong announced that Elliott would joinJake Allen to form their goaltending tandem. Miller was not re-signed.
Miller became an unrestrictedfree agent on July 1, 2014, and signed a three-year, $18 million contract to become the starting goaltender with theVancouver Canucks.[12] On October 28, Miller became the 30th goaltender in NHL history to reach 300 career wins. He made 29 saves as the Canucks beat theCarolina Hurricanes 4–1. On January 30, 2015, after beating his former team, the Buffalo Sabres, 5–2, Miller has beaten every team in the NHL at least once. However, on February 22, Miller was injured afterJannik Hansen crashed into him, ending his night as he and Eddie Lack combined for a shutout over the New York Islanders. He would miss the next 21 games. After 22 games of not being on ice, Miller returned to start the last game of the regular season as the Canucks beat theEdmonton Oilers, 6–5.
After concluding his three-year contract with the Canucks, Miller left as a free agent and signed a two-year, $4 million contract with theAnaheim Ducks on July 1, 2017.[13] He began the2017–18 season on the injured-reserve list due to a lingering wrist injury.[14] In his return to health, Miller was able to make his debut with the Ducks in a 4–3 shootout victory over theCarolina Hurricanes on October 29, 2017.[15] On February 17, 2019, Miller became the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history, surpassingJohn Vanbiesbrouck.[16][17]
On June 20, 2019, Miller was re-signed by the Ducks to return for a third season with the club,[18] agreeing to a one-year $2.235 million contract extension.[19] On December 23, 2020, Miller was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Ducks.[20]
On April 29, 2021, Miller announced he would retire from the NHL at the end of the2020–21 season.[21] Miller played his final NHL game, a 4–3 overtime loss to theMinnesota Wild in whichVictor Rask scored the game winning goal 2:46 into the overtime period on May 8, 2021.[22] The Buffalo Sabres retired Miller's number 30 on January 19, 2023.[23] On September 8, 2022, it was announced that Miller would be inducted into theUnited States Hockey Hall of Fame.[24]
 Miller at the2010 Winter Olympics | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sice hockey | ||
Representingthe United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 2010 Vancouver | |
Miller was made a reserve for theUnited States at the2006 Winter Olympics inTurin, but he did not play.
Miller was selected as starting goaltender for the US in the2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver. He led the team to a perfect 5–0 start, including a 5–3 win over gold-medal favoriteCanada in the preliminary round, stopping 42 of 45 shots. The five wins, including victories overSwitzerland andFinland in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, brought the US to the gold medal game, where they faced Canada for the second time. In the gold medal game, the U.S. lost 3–2 in overtime despite Miller's 36 saves, asSidney Crosby scored the game-winner in his second scoring attempt, after his first was saved by Miller. The US, however, won the silver medal in large part due to Miller's 5–0–1 record, and Miller was named themost valuable player of the tournament. Miller finished with a save percentage of .946 and a GAA of 1.35, both American Olympic records.[25] Miller also wonInternational Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) best goaltender honors and was named to the All-Star team.[26]
After his selection to the US roster for the2014 Winter Olympics inSochi, head coachDan Bylsma namedJonathan Quick the team's starting goaltender over Miller and fellow Olympic teammateJimmy Howard. Miller would go on to start and play in one of the US's six games. (Quick played in the other five.) In his one and only game, Miller made 17 saves in a 5–1 win againstSlovenia. The US, however, did not medal inSochi, and Miller finished the tournament with a 1–0 record, a 1.00 GAA, and a .944 save percentage.
Miller married actressNoureen DeWulf on September 3, 2011.[27] On September 11, 2014, it was announced that the couple were expecting their first child.[28] Their son was born in March 2015, inVancouver,British Columbia.[29] Their daughter was born in April 2022 inLos Angeles, California.[30]
In 2006, Miller, along with his father Dean, started the Steadfast Foundation which supports cancer patients and their families. Miller began the foundation after his cousin was diagnosed withleukaemia.[31]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1997–98 | Soo Indians | NAHL | 37 | 21 | 14 | 0 | — | 2113 | 82 | 3 | 2.33 | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 158 | 7 | 0 | 2.66 | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Soo Indians | NAHL | 47 | 31 | 14 | 1 | — | 2711 | 104 | 8 | 2.30 | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 218 | 10 | 1 | 2.75 | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 25 | 16 | 5 | 3 | — | 1525 | 39 | 8 | 1.54 | .932 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 40 | 31 | 5 | 4 | — | 2448 | 54 | 10 | 1.33 | .950 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 40 | 26 | 9 | 5 | — | 2412 | 71 | 8 | 1.77 | .936 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 47 | 23 | 18 | 5 | — | 2815 | 10 | 2 | 2.34 | .920 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 190 | 13 | 0 | 4.11 | .856 | ||
| 2002–03 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 15 | 6 | 8 | 1 | — | 912 | 40 | 1 | 2.63 | .902 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 177 | 15 | 0 | 5.00 | .795 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 60 | 27 | 25 | 7 | — | 3579 | 132 | 5 | 2.21 | .925 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 857 | 26 | 2 | 1.82 | .934 | ||
| 2004–05 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 63 | 41 | 17 | 4 | — | 370 | 153 | 8 | 2.45 | .922 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 547 | 24 | 0 | 2.63 | .909 | ||
| 2005–06 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 48 | 30 | 14 | — | 3 | 2862 | 124 | 1 | 2.60 | .914 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 1123 | 48 | 1 | 2.56 | .908 | ||
| 2005–06 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 120 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | .889 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 63 | 40 | 16 | — | 6 | 3692 | 168 | 2 | 2.73 | .911 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 1029 | 38 | 0 | 2.22 | .922 | ||
| 2007–08 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 76 | 36 | 27 | — | 10 | 4474 | 197 | 3 | 2.64 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 59 | 34 | 18 | — | 6 | 3443 | 145 | 5 | 2.53 | .918 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 69 | 41 | 18 | — | 8 | 4047 | 150 | 5 | 2.22 | .929 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 384 | 15 | 0 | 2.34 | .926 | ||
| 2010–11 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 66 | 34 | 22 | — | 8 | 3829 | 165 | 5 | 2.59 | .916 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 410 | 20 | 2 | 2.93 | .917 | ||
| 2011–12 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 61 | 31 | 21 | — | 7 | 3536 | 150 | 6 | 2.54 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 40 | 17 | 17 | — | 5 | 2302 | 108 | 0 | 2.81 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 40 | 15 | 22 | — | 3 | 2384 | 108 | 0 | 2.72 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 19 | 10 | 8 | — | 1 | 1117 | 46 | 1 | 2.47 | .903 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 422 | 19 | 0 | 2.70 | .897 | ||
| 2014–15 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 45 | 29 | 15 | — | 1 | 2542 | 107 | 6 | 2.53 | .911 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 156 | 6 | 0 | 2.31 | .910 | ||
| 2015–16 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 51 | 17 | 24 | — | 6 | 3027 | 137 | 1 | 2.70 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 54 | 18 | 29 | — | 6 | 3212 | 150 | 3 | 2.80 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 28 | 12 | 6 | — | 6 | 1354 | 53 | 4 | 2.35 | .928 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 9.00 | .750 | ||
| 2018–19 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 20 | 11 | 7 | — | 2 | 1109 | 51 | 1 | 2.76 | .912 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 23 | 9 | 6 | — | 4 | 1239 | 64 | 0 | 3.10 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 16 | 4 | 8 | — | 2 | 871 | 51 | 1 | 3.51 | .882 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 796 | 391 | 289 | 1 | 87 | 46,145 | 2,029 | 44 | 2.64 | .914 | 57 | 28 | 27 | 3,544 | 149 | 3 | 2.52 | .913 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | United States | WC | 7th | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 238 | 7 | 1 | 1.76 | .950 | |
| 2003 | United States | WC | 13th | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 193 | 8 | 0 | 2.49 | .889 | |
| 2010 | United States | OG |  | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 355 | 8 | 1 | 1.35 | .946 | |
| 2014 | United States | OG | 4th | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | .944 | |
| Senior totals | 15 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 846 | 24 | 2 | 1.70 | .938 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| All-CCHARookie Team | 2000 | |
| All-CCHASecond Team | 2000 | [32] |
| CCHAAll-Tournament Team | 2000 | [33] |
| All-CCHAFirst Team | 2001 | [32] |
| CCHAPlayer of the Year | 2001 | |
| AHCAWest first-team All-American | 2001 | |
| Hobey Baker Memorial Award | 2001 | |
| C-Bone Classic champion | 2001 | |
| CCHAAll-Tournament Team | 2001 | [33] |
| All-CCHAFirst Team | 2002 | [32] |
| CCHAPlayer of the Year | 2002 | |
| AHCAWest first-team All-American | 2002 | |
| AHL | ||
| First All-Star team | 2005 | |
| Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award | 2005 | |
| NHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2007 | |
| Foundation Player Award | 2010 | |
| Vezina Trophy | 2010 | |
| First All-Star team | 2010 | |
| International | ||
| Olympic MVP | 2010 | [26] |
| Olympic best goaltender | 2010 | [26] |
| Olympic All-Star team | 2010 | [26] |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mark Kosick | CCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament 2000,2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Award created | CCHA Goaltender of the Year 2000–01,2001–02 | Succeeded by Mike Betz |
| Preceded by | CCHA Player of the Year 2000–01, 2001–02 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theHobey Baker Award 2000–01 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Big Ten Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year 2000–01 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theVezina Trophy 2010 | Succeeded by Tim Thomas |
| Preceded by | Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award 2004–05 | Succeeded by |