How overrated is Ryan Miller?

Question

Pascal LeClaire has more SO's in the first 21 games of THIS SEASON than Miller has in his career. Still burns me that this guy was the STARTER at last year's All-Star debacle.
I keep hearing his name mentioned in the same breath as up and comers like Lundqvist. Foolishness.

Answer 1

It depends.

I think he's definitely overrated. I lived in Rochester for 5 years, and had the pleasure (heh) of watching him play for both the Amerks and Sabres. I'm a Rangers fan, but a lot of my friends were Sabres fans (and I am a huge hockey fan in general), so I watched him play... frequently.

I think in the regular season, he is definitely overrated. I would fight with people over who was better, Lundqvist or Miller, and it seemed that I was the only one in western NYS that said Lundqvist. Yet, when I offered to put money on who would win a Vezina first, no one would take me up on it. He had lots of wins, (a) because with the shootout, everyone has lots of wins, and (b) because he had a GREAT team in front of him. But his numbers, and play, were only okay. He always seemed to let in a soft goal at a bad time, and while the Sabres would hold up enough for them to win, I was often unimpressed with Miller. (and I've seen him get shutouts live)

That being said, he definitely does step it up towards the end of the season, and in the playoffs. He played very well in the playoffs the past two years. But in the regular season, I think he is mediocre.

(And being in the top 10 isn't that impressive, there are only 30 number one goalies in the league. But I wouldn't put him in the top 10 anyways.)

Answer 2

Bob, if anything Ryan Miller is underrated. The usual suspects (Brodeur, Luongo, Lundqvist, Nabokov, et al) get all the publicity. Miller is getting his just due. That Buffalo Sabres defense is being held together by duct tape, chewing gum, super glue, and faith. The last line of that porous D is none other than Mr. Miller That guy has carried a punchless Sabres team upon his shoulders. He pretty much did the same thing with Michigan State a few seasons ago.

Pascal Leclaire is simply playing out of his mind on a team with a better defensive scheme than the Sabres. C'mon, look at who Leclaire's coach is! Ken Hitchcock worked wonders with a broken down Ed Belfour and every second rate Flyers goalie who passed through the doors during the coach's tenure there.

Answer 3

I hate the fact that this question actually has some integrity. :(

Well... Does anyone remember game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals last year? OPidsjidjsklfhnjksdfh;isfhis Like holy ******* **** ****** ****. Miller was standing on his head for the entire game and the rest of the Sabres decided they didn't feel like showing up. I was so pissed that Emery got a SO that game. The Sabres only had like 12 shots on net. And Miller stopped like 35. And that goal.... OMG I wanted to bash my head against a glacier. That was one of the most frustrating games I have ever watched. I hate the Sens...

I've really wanted to rant about that for a while...

Anyway, I think the stats are in your favour, Bob.

The Schmidt: You meanie. Right now I would really like to say that the Wolverine's suck, but I'm not a liar. Damn...

Answer 4

How overrated was Jim Carey? The guy went from Vezina to the minors in a blink of an eye.

1 or 2 seasons do not a career make. I say that neither in praise nor condemnation. Miller spent the 2 previous seasons going from a platoon arrangement to 40 wins and 61 starts in 06-07. Of course, those were different teams that were considered threats for Stanley Cup contention

Today, he is THE guy in net on a team that is clearly still finding its way to define an identity for itself after the departures of multiple key figures in their dressing room.

So, is Miller struggling? Yes. Does that mean he did not deserve his previous accolades? No, and nor does it mean his legacy has come close to beind established one way or another. He's just entered his 3rd full season and 2nd as a clearcut starter, so we might pause a year or two before writing the guy off or preparing a spot for him at the HOF.

Answer 5

I kept saying last year that Fluery was as good or better last year and no one would seem to listen. Heck the numbers even SHOWED it. The only reason people kept claiming Miller was so great was the team he was on. Well I guess I can say I told you so, but I doubt anyone would listen. Anyway I'd bet that Fluery has more shutouts then Miller and still has about the same numbers. So why is Miller supposedly so great? Yeah fine Fluery was drafted number 1, that doesn't mean that Miller is so much better because he wasn't, it means more is expected of him. So if people want to say that Fluery sucks I'd guess Miller sucks as well. I'm not saying Miller is horrible, but he clearly shouldn't be a superstar either.

Answer 6

Ryan Miller, Just like Fleury is young, still developing and cannot do good unless their team is doing good.

Ryan Miller is a good goalie that just needs a better team playing in front of him this year, i personally liked him a lot last year, i definitely thought he was great, Overrated? No, but good, Absolutely.

I think he is overrated in buffalo at the moment because he is the one that's expected to do the most on the team this year, he is expected to win the games, so everyone literally bows at the word "Miller".

He is all that is left of a dieing franchise, so therefor i think in this case, it is good for him to be overrated.

Answer 7

You can't blame it all on the fans for "overrating" Miller, as you say they have done. Miller may have been voted into the All-Star game by the fans, but it wasn't the fans who nominated him as one of the choices, was it? If I recall correctly, he wasn't a write in!
Also, Miller won the Hobey Baker Award, one of only two goalies to ever win it. Is college the same as NHL? No, but it says something in his favor that he won it, doesn't it? Yes.
And before anyone comes back and says I'm just sticking up for him because I'm a Sabre fan, I'm just pointing out the facts. I don't think Miller is the best goalie in the NHL at all, but I don't think he is grossly, ridiculously, majorly overrated either.

Answer 8

Miller is good but he also had a good team in front of him when Buffalo had some players, Pascal LeClaire is doing great this year but can he do it again next year?

Answer 9

dude... on the real... you've gotta get offa this rant.. its ridiculous... Ryan Miller isn't overrated... his team got shuffled big time... they don't play the way they should be playing for their defensive system... they were playing a wing lock and they lost key players... they have two of their better defense men on injured Reserve.

You have a personal beef and its obvious and ridiculous... Miller is one of the best goalies in the world... He can represent my nation in the Olympics any time.

I watched Pascal in the AHL and Miller in the AHL and Miller was better then and although his performance isn't as good as it should be RIGHT NOW he is better than Pascal... Pascal moves too much... Miller always squares... Millers' division got alot better this season as well.

This is about Biron huh? Miller IS better than Biron man... I promise you.

Answer 10

...How much does this miff you? LOL.

Honestly, stats aside, he didn't look THAT bad in the
playoffs. He's definitely no Henrik Lundqvist though. I think Lundqvist was the better goaltender in the Rangers/Sabres series. Lundqvist being nominated twice (every season of his career thus far, including his rookie year) speaks volumes anyway. The All-Star Game just is what it is.