We all know Miller has a penchant for playing it straight in his interviews as one of the more candid players on the team. Still, this season it seems like he is stepping it up a notch, giving us such gems as "I like nothing more than to send them an hour and a half home with a loss" in regards to the Maple Leafs, and "they were fortunate to get anything by me," in regards to the Islanders. One might even say he's stepping over the line of confidence and into the realm of cockiness and douchebaggery.

Now, Miller is a smart player and seems to prepare himself mentally for games better than anyone else on the ice. Several players have also indicated Miller continues to step up as a leader in the locker room. I wonder if Miller's aggressive comments aren't meant to intentionally draw the attention onto himself. Everyone in hockey knows that Miller is having a stellar statistical year. Not many have also noticed that the men in front of him are also playing some pretty damn good hockey most nights. Miller might be thinking "if all the attention is on me, it's off of the boys in front of me, and that can only be beneficial."

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Douchebaggery for the good of the team? Miller may just be that crazy and smart enough to make it work.

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mechaphil

LOL! Great one, CV!

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

He's not into the realm of douchebaggery until he comes out and says "I'm Ryan Miller, and you're not."

Even then, he's backing it up. I love it. Bring the noise.

Wait, was this thread serious or sarcastic for humorous affect?

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

I don't mind. As good as he's playing he deserves the right to trash talk a little, its not like he's going over board like Avery. And yeah, the D is playing a lot better this year, but Miller has bailed out so much. This might also just be technique to get into the teams minds as well.

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"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." ~ Han Solo


We truly are not worthy of Miller!

Both, I think. Intended to make us laugh, but maybe make us think about Miller using serious mindgames by strutting about to take heat off the rest of the team.

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mechaphil

Gotcha...

Well, for serious reply I would say bring on the bravado. I love when he talks confident, shows himself to be a leader, and takes the smack to the other team. The Sabres have needed that edge for years.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

You never can tell with me can you?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Nah, I'm pretty sure Caro will jive to this idea.






Besides, Alex would love the possibilities of a sassy blonde with a sharp object haha

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mechaphil

I hope and want Miller to be as confident as he sounds in interviews. OTOH, what he said after the Islanders game, about setting up the SO attempts very well and that they were fortunate to get pucks by him, didn't read very well.

He's 13-20 on shootouts, a .650% that could be better, and earned an extra point or two in the standings. Now it's only shootouts, and they obviously don't mean crap once the playoffs start. But, if he's going to say that stuff (to a reporter at least) he should probably have dominated SOs up until that game.

Not a big deal though.

Miller has always been known to be sassy in his interviews. He's probably one of the most candid interview in the league. I remember during the playoffs in 06 against Carolina he said something along the lines of, "Carolina fans just think I'm a dirty hippy, so who really cares what they think anyways."

My sassy little Ryan.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Oh ho! Unbeknownst to most of us, Miller has been playing mindgames since back in the dayyyz!

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mechaphil

Yeah...it's when I first started taking an extra liking to him. First I was like, "This dude's a damn good goalie." Then I was like, "Woah...wait a minute...he looks like JESUS. Holy shit." Then I was like, "Wait...he's a damn good goalie AND he looks like Jesus AND he's hilarious. Ryan Miller is AWESOME."

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

I'd prefer him to say, "I'm Ryan Miller, BITCH!!"



.

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“This is a good building to play in,” Roy said. “It’s kind of quiet.”

-- forward Derek Roy, following the Sabres' 2-1 OT win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Jan. 14, 2010, a game where the home team drew just over 11,000 fans {the ninth time in 22 home games they failed to draw 12,000}

I love the confidence...its the final ingredient Ryan needed to be the awesome brick wall he is today.

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Its NNYFAN, but you can just call me Kris.

I wouldn't go into the realm of saying Miller is a "douchebag". Brash and cocky yes, but douchbag, nay

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

I really wouldn't consider him cocky...to me, cocky is when you're over confident with a smug undertone. I would never consider Miller being smug about anything. I would say he's just pretty direct and honest. Doesn't sugarcoat things, and a lot of people take that as him being cocky or being a dick. I read a lot of other team's message boards especially after they play the Sabres, and a lot of the times their fans always think he's such a prick in his interviews. Especially Leafs fans.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

I prefer the feisty, confident, bring-it-on Miller!

I'm soooo glad he's being more creative than his nondescript standard post-game comment from years past, "We have to be better."

Perhaps our Golden Rule, "Thou Shalt Not be A Douche," needs an addendum . . . Ryan Miller, Douchebag, excluded.

I really didn't expect this from Miller, so I guess I'm still kind of in shock. Not sure how to handle it right now. I guess as long as it doesn't turn into a bad attitude it will be ok.