:: View topic - Is it Miller or our Defense?

I'm honestly 100% ready to part with him; he's had one amazing season, some pretty good ones, and the rest have been at or below average.

It's both.

NYIntensity wrote:

I'm honestly 100% ready to part with him; he's had one amazing season, some pretty good ones, and the rest have been at or below average.

This is bullshit. Aside from last season, he's never really been a stats leader, but that doesn't mean he has played average. He is a clutch goaltender who makes big saves at crucial times. Anyone who has watched him in the playoffs can attest to that. So I don't know where you're getting that he's been average or below average during his career aside from last season, because that simply isn't the case. Take your eyes away from the stats books and watch him play.

He has been struggling this season, there is no question. But he's known league-wide as being one of the best goaltenders in the game, and it's not just because of last year.

The only times I can recall him having disappointing seasons is this one (so far) and when his cousin died.

fly as hale wrote:

It's both.

NYIntensity wrote:

I'm honestly 100% ready to part with him; he's had one amazing season, some pretty good ones, and the rest have been at or below average.

This. You can't expect a Vezina EVERY season, that's just not realistic. When the playoffs start there is only one statistic that matters, and only one ranking that will decide wether or not Miller's season was a success or a failure. Where they are in the standings, either they get in or they don't. Today they inched a point closer, it's not the end of the world that they lost in OT. Most of the isle goals were actually really nice goals especially all 3 of grabner's who is one hell of a hockey player.

The thing is, Ruff is overplaying Miller and he will be shot come playoff time for sure. I guarantee it. So a shrewd GM might actually trade for a more talented backup like Ty Conklin, because you never know....

miller caught lightning in a bottle last year, and now its showing. hes a very capable and talented goalie, but hes struggling this year. i honestly cant tell you what it is, everything i see him do is what i feel i would do in that situation.

We built a team around him, a major fucking no-no. NOW it's showing. Ruff doesn't have any options BUT to play Miller so much - there are no other options.

He hasn't really been clutch at all this season. Kind of what we pay him to do, and what this team relies on.

Markus - you're spot on with the odd man rushes, but even so, that's not when I'm most disappointed in him giving up goals. It's nights like tonight. 7 goals against, and the majority of them should have been stopped by the guy we put the franchise tag on.

NYIntensity wrote:

I have to agree with you here. I believe, even with his poor play this season, Miller's stats are on par with other goalies in his pay class ($5M up) over the past few years, I just don't think that he's $4-$5M more valuable than someone like Enroth.

Author:	NYIntensity [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Is it Miller or our Defense?
Our GAA is pretty bad. I understand a bad game here or there, but Miller, well, he doesn't have "it" this season. He's 26th in GAA. 25th in SV%. 8th in SA, so I kind of understand his GAA being high. So WTF is going on? Before all of you jump on my ass with "why are you so against Miller" and "he's the face of this team" and "how dare you zomg I love him", my polite answer to you is that this team is here for winning. We jump on everyone else for a bad game, or a bad stretch of games. He's having a bad SEASON.

Author:	Rud [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
It's both. Our defense is giving up some bad plays, ala Grabner's breakaway, but Miller is coughing up some pretty bad goals. Like both wrap-around goals earlier. He needs a few games off. Then again, we have Miller on this team because we expect him to be able to make those big saves when our defense lapses, which he hasn't been doing as of late.

Author:	Skyline_BNR34 [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
Grabner's last breakaway was due to rough ice, can't help a bouncing puck at all. Miller needs a game off. I know we are trying to make the playoffs, but he needs time off to just not play. 31 straight games is too much.

Author:	NYIntensity [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
I'm honestly 100% ready to part with him; he's had one amazing season, some pretty good ones, and the rest have been at or below average.

Author:	bigC24 [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
Both.

http://www.sabresjunkie.com/forum/

Is it Miller or our Defense? http://www.sabresjunkie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5586	Page 1 of 10

Author:	fly as hale [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
It's both. NYIntensity wrote: I'm honestly 100% ready to part with him; he's had one amazing season, some pretty good ones, and the rest have been at or below average. This is bullshit. Aside from last season, he's never really been a stats leader, but that doesn't mean he has played average. He is a clutch goaltender who makes big saves at crucial times. Anyone who has watched him in the playoffs can attest to that. So I don't know where you're getting that he's been average or below average during his career aside from last season, because that simply isn't the case. Take your eyes away from the stats books and watch him play. He has been struggling this season, there is no question. But he's known league-wide as being one of the best goaltenders in the game, and it's not just because of last year. The only times I can recall him having disappointing seasons is this one (so far) and when his cousin died.

Author:	X-pensfan [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
It's both. They are giving up 1 more shot per game then they did last year, but over .5 more goals per games. The team shot blocking is actually a little bit better than last season.

Author:	Timbo Slice [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
Definitely both. Sometimes Miller lets in soft goals, and sometimes the defense lets him down by playing like crap. I really think there's something wrong with Miller though. Maybe an injury, or maybe just a lack of focus... but there's something wrong.

Author:	X-pensfan [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
fly as hale wrote: It's both. NYIntensity wrote: I'm honestly 100% ready to part with him; he's had one amazing season, some pretty good ones, and the rest have been at or below average. This is bullshit. Aside from last season, he's never really been a stats leader, but that doesn't mean he has played average. He is a clutch goaltender who makes big saves at crucial times. Anyone who has watched him in the playoffs can attest to that. So I don't know where you're getting that he's been average or below average during his career aside from last season, because that simply isn't the case. Take your eyes away from the stats books and watch him play. He has been struggling this season, there is no question. But he's known league-wide as being one of the best goaltenders in the game, and it's not just because of last year. The only times I can recall him having disappointing seasons is this one (so far) and when his cousin died. This. You can't expect a Vezina EVERY season, that's just not realistic. When the playoffs start there is only one statistic that matters, and only one ranking that will decide wether or not Miller's season was a success or a failure. Where they are in the standings, either they get in or they don't. Today they inched a point closer, it's not the end of the world that they lost in OT. Most of the isle goals were actually really nice goals especially all 3 of grabner's who is one hell of a hockey player. The thing is, Ruff is overplaying Miller and he will be shot come playoff time for sure. I guarantee it. So a shrewd GM might actually trade for a more talented backup like Ty Conklin, because you never know....

Author:	ironyisadeadscene [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
miller caught lightning in a bottle last year, and now its showing. hes a very capable and talented goalie, but hes struggling this year. i honestly cant tell you what it is, everything i see him do is what i feel i would do in that situation.

Author:	Markus [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
While the defense of the team makes some mishaps, such as Sekera being flatfooted on the last goal, but I really think it's the lack of defense in the forwards. Save a couple of our guys, no one is afraid to take the body to our players and make a play. Also, as many commentators have stated, we give up a shitload of odd man rushes. Backchecking has been a huge issue.

Author:	NYIntensity [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
We built a team around him, a major fucking no-no. NOW it's showing. Ruff doesn't have any options BUT to play Miller so much - there are no other options. He hasn't really been clutch at all this season. Kind of what we pay him to do, and what this team relies on. Markus - you're spot on with the odd man rushes, but even so, that's not when I'm most disappointed in him giving up goals. It's nights like tonight. 7 goals against, and the majority of them should have been stopped by the guy we put the franchise tag on.

Author:	dbsabres06 [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
X-pensfan wrote: fly as hale wrote: It's both. NYIntensity wrote: I'm honestly 100% ready to part with him; he's had one amazing season, some pretty good ones, and the rest have been at or below average. This is bullshit. Aside from last season, he's never really been a stats leader, but that doesn't mean he has played average. He is a clutch goaltender who makes big saves at crucial times. Anyone who has watched him in the playoffs can attest to that. So I don't know where you're getting that he's been average or below average during his career aside from last season, because that simply isn't the case. Take your eyes away from the stats books and watch him play. He has been struggling this season, there is no question. But he's known league-wide as being one of the best goaltenders in the game, and it's not just because of last year. The only times I can recall him having disappointing seasons is this one (so far) and when his cousin died. This. You can't expect a Vezina EVERY season, that's just not realistic. When the playoffs start there is only one statistic that matters, and only one ranking that will decide wether or not Miller's season was a success or a failure. Where they are in the standings, either they get in or they don't. Today they inched a point closer, it's not the end of the world that they lost in OT. Most of the isle goals were actually really nice goals especially all 3 of grabner's who is one hell of a hockey player. The thing is, Ruff is overplaying Miller and he will be shot come playoff time for sure. I guarantee it. So a shrewd GM might actually trade for a more talented backup like Ty Conklin, because you never know.... haha that's funny because we traded for conklin a few trade deadlines ago and he stunk it up.

Author:	Markus [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
Yea, not a great game defense wise from ANYONE on the Sabres, except for maybe Connolly and Ennis.

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Author:	CriminallyVu1gar [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
NYIntensity wrote: We built a team around him, a major fucking no-no. NOW it's showing. Ruff doesn't have any options BUT to play Miller so much - there are no other options. He hasn't really been clutch at all this season. Kind of what we pay him to do, and what this team relies on. Markus - you're spot on with the odd man rushes, but even so, that's not when I'm most disappointed in him giving up goals. It's nights like tonight. 7 goals against, and the majority of them should have been stopped by the guy we put the franchise tag on. I have to agree with you here. I believe, even with his poor play this season, Miller's stats are on par with other goalies in his pay class ($5M up) over the past few years, I just don't think that he's $4-$5M more valuable than someone like Enroth.

Author:	NYIntensity [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
CriminallyVu1gar wrote: NYIntensity wrote: We built a team around him, a major fucking no-no. NOW it's showing. Ruff doesn't have any options BUT to play Miller so much - there are no other options. He hasn't really been clutch at all this season. Kind of what we pay him to do, and what this team relies on. Markus - you're spot on with the odd man rushes, but even so, that's not when I'm most disappointed in him giving up goals. It's nights like tonight. 7 goals against, and the majority of them should have been stopped by the guy we put the franchise tag on. I have to agree with you here. I believe, even with his poor play this season, Miller's stats are on par with other goalies in his pay class ($5M up) over the past few years, I just don't think that he's $4-$5M more valuable than someone like Enroth. That's a pretty good point too. While he's miles better than Enroth, he (Enroth) still hasn't had many NHL games.

Author:	NYIntensity [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
And no, I'm not saying Enroth is our fix, I'm just going with the options we know we truly have.

Author:	daz28 [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
Both, but more so Miller than the defense. He's not as ridiculously reliable as last year.

Author:	X-pensfan [ Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Is it Miller or our Defense?
ironyisadeadscene wrote: miller caught lightning in a bottle last year, and now its showing. hes a very capable and talented goalie, but hes struggling this year. i honestly cant tell you what it is, everything i see him do is what i feel i would do in that situation. I know he will win another Vezina, but first they need a much more consistent, defensive minded team and system. Truth be told they were not a good defensive team last season either, Miller was just that good. And he may never top that regular season, but I think he knows he can top it all by winning the Cup. Tragically he will be too burned out to do it this season unless he gets some TDL relief.