bummer. i wanted to see him wearing the winged wheel.

Posted by cowboycoffee from San Francisco, CA on 07/18/08 at 10:31 AM ET

I didn’t.  We don’t need a goaltender like Miller.  He’s overrated and is only a slight upgrade over Osgood/Howard.

Posted by moore00 on 07/18/08 at 11:10 AM ET

More important, TOO EXPENSIVE.

Unless you have one of the tip-top, super-awesome, incredibly-bestest goaltenders around, he isn’t worth as much money as some of the next tier will be getting.  The drop-off in cost is much larger than the drop-off in talent - that’s why a team with an excellent defense only needs a good, solid, reliable goaltender, but not one who needs to be spectacular every night if the team is going to win.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/18/08 at 11:24 AM ET

The money is a bit high, as it puts Miller among the highest paid goaltenders when I think that, based on talent, he’s behind Lundqvist, Kiprusoff, Brodeur and Luongo.  However, for Buffalo this deal was as much about image as it was about hockey. Like Chicago overpaying Campbell as a marketing move, to increase the buzz they created last year, Buffalo needed to sign Miller before this season started to avoid another round of “will he or won’t he” that they experienced with Brian Campbell. They also needed to avoid seeing yet another player leave town, and this time one who actually factored into their plans.  I think that they therefore overpaid Miller a bit, part of which is probably a premium to entice him to sign before he got to free agency next year.  And while I do feel they overpaid, I don’t think the deal is out of line with what he would have gotten on the free agent market had he tested the waters next July 1.  Given that, I think that with all the other intangibles surrounding the deal it’s not a bad one for the Sabres, although I do wish there were more sanity in the league pay structure.

Posted by Dan from Pittsburgh on 07/18/08 at 12:35 PM ET

I think that, based on talent, he’s behind Lundqvist, Kiprusoff, Brodeur and Luongo.

You’re forgetting the Vezina finalist who was jobbed in the Martin Brodeur Lifetime Achievement Award vote.

But I’m just biased.

Posted by Mike from San Jose on 07/18/08 at 04:30 PM ET

5 Years? I guess Enroth the other goalie they drafted I believe in the 2nd round a couple of years ago won’t get much of a chance. Being a native of Rochester, NY I am a die-hard Sabres fan and have had the luxury of watching the Dominator make saves that no other goalie will possibly make look as brilliant. There is no comparison between Dom and Miller or Marty or Mikka if we go that far back but I’m not completely sold on Miller being a winner. Just a few weeks ago when Buffalo was looking for depth on defense and talking to Vancouver I was hoping they would try to pry Bieksa or someone younger defensively who is strong on both sides of the ice. Since Vancouver lost Naslund and Morrison and was so thin on their forward lines I was thinking maybe Max/Connolly for Bieksa or even Zagrapan, MacArthur or Kotalik possibly if Max or Connolly were’nt touted. Then they trade Bernier who has nice size and is still young for picks or you could say now Rivet an older defenseman. I’m not completely disappointed because we needed help on the blueline but is this the best we could do? How about J.Smith who went to Ottawa that Buffalo was in discussion with, a more defensive defenseman who has toughness and integrity. Oh well. Then I was thinking Vancouver is probably panicing because of their poor postseason aquisitions that Buffalo could’ve probably have offered Miller/MAx/Connolly and a 1st round draft for Luongo{the best tender in the NHL}/Bieksa. Even Bernier in this trade instead of one of the others. VAncouver was probably worried at this stage, they had’nt even signed Demitra yet and this trade could’ve helped both clubs. Buffalo could’ve dropped salary and baggage they no longer needed and possibly could’ve plucked the best goalie in hockey. Even Kalinin could play in front of this guy and look good. Wishful thinking I guess. You always want to see your team do whats best for themselves and to give you someone to cheer for during the season and have a team worthy of postseason play. So I guess we’ll watch Miller for another 5 years and hope the next closest thing to Dom will come after him because I can’t see cup contender written on this club.

Posted by DerekE from Chesterfield,VA USA on 07/18/08 at 11:37 PM ET