Ryan Miller

Lore & Background

Miller grew up in East 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. His brother Drew and cousins Kelly, Kevin and Kip all played in the NHL. All five attended Michigan State University, where Ryan Miller played goaltender for three years. After three seasons with Michigan State, Miller moved to the American Hockey League (AHL), where he played for the Buffalo Sabres' affiliate, the Rochester 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 a lockout, he won 41 games for the Americans, tying Gerry 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 the Manitoba Moose. Miller finished the 2005–06 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 a save 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 the Eastern Conference of the 2007 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, with Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Dev

In Their Own Story

The ice is cold under the floodlights at the Nassau Coliseum, and the crowd noise is a low, constant hum. Miller is on his knees, stick planted, breathing hard after a scramble that ended with the puck wedged behind his leg. He looks up. The opposing winger is skating back, stick raised, mouth open in a shout. Miller says nothing. He just watches the puck, watches the shooter, and his eyes track the release before the puck leaves the blade. Then his glove is up, his body is a blur, and the puck is gone. The Coliseum erupts. Miller does not celebrate. He just skates back, sets his stick, and waits for the next one. That was Ryan Miller. That was every night, for years, and the fans never got used to it.

Reader's Guide

Ryan Miller is known for his hybrid style of goaltending. He is the older brother of former NHL forward Drew Miller. He was selected to play for the United States in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver as the team's starting goaltender. He won a silver medal with the team and was named most valuable player of the tournament. Four years later, he was selected for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Miller is one of 39 goaltenders in NHL history to win 300 games in his career.

Did You Know?

• Miller was drafted 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL entry draft.
• He won the Vezina Trophy in 2010.
• Miller was the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history from February 2019 until March 2024.
• His #30 was retired by the Buffalo Sabres in January 2023.
• Miller won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics and was named tournament MVP.