Sabres G Miller signs extension

Jul 18, 2008 - 7:38 PM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Ryan Miller received a belated birthday present, and the Buffalo Sabres checked off the top priority on their offseason to-do list.

Miller finally secured his future with the Sabres on Friday, signing a five-year contract extension one day after turning 28 years old.

The Sabres did not announce financial terms of the deal, which keeps Miller under contract through the 2013-14 season. But multiple media outlets have reported that the deal is worth $31.25 million, a figure which clearly signals that Miller is the face of the Sabres' franchise.

"I was really happy with the way it went," Miller said. "There wasn't that much back and forth. They made a good offer and projected what the marketplace is now going forward with the cap. It's a fair deal for both sides."

Miller is scheduled to make $3.5 million next season, the final year of his current three-year contract.

A 2007 All-Star and one of hockey's top young goaltenders, Miller would have been eligible for free agency after the 2008-09 season.

But the Sabres, a club that has lost multiple star players due to financial restrictions over the last two years, confirmed their long-term commitment to Miller.

"It came down to this is a goaltender we believe in," Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said. "This is a goaltender who's only going to get better, and this is a goaltender who ultimately we think we can win a championship with."

One season after leading the Sabres to the Presidents' Trophy, Miller endured a trying 2007-08 campaign, going 36-27-10 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage for a Buffalo club that missed the playoffs by four points.

Following a 2006-07 season in which they collected 113 points and reached the Eastern Conference finals, the Sabres opted against re-signing star centers Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, who both received lucrative free agent contracts last summer.

At this year's trade deadline, Buffalo parted ways with All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell, sending the blue-liner to San Jose rather than lose him via free agency. As expected, Campbell's services came with a hefty price tag, an eight-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks reportedly worth $57 million.

The Sabres evidently were saving that money to pay Miller, who owns a career record of 112-68-19 with a 2.69 GAA and a .908 save percentage.

A Michigan State product who reportedly was interested in eventually joining his hometown Detroit Red Wings, Miller emerged as a star during the 2006-07 season, when he went 40-16-9 with a .911 save percentage.

Although his numbers dipped this past season, Miller turned in a workmanlike campaign, ranking in the NHL's top six in wins, games (76), minutes played (4,474) and shots faced (2,104).