With Ryan Miller's name popping up in trade rumors ahead of the Olympic break and subsequent NHL trade deadline on March 5, the goaltender and unrestricted free agent-to-be is unsure of his future with the Buffalo Sabres and believes that even if the team doesn't end up dealing him, he may not be back with Buffalo after 11 seasons with the team.
With the Sabres playing their final home game at the First Niagara Center before the two-week Winter Olympic break and hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night, Miller--who played all of his 538 career NHL games with Buffalo--doesn't know if it'll be the last time he suits up for the Sabres at the First Niagara Center in his career.
"Anything's possible, just with the way the season's gone and the direction it could be headed," Miller, who was selected by the Sabres in the fifth round of the 1999 draft, said per NHL.com. "We'll just wait to see what the plans start to become."
The Sabres have gone through many changes this season, with Pat LaFontaine taking over hockey operations on Nov. 13 after general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolston were both fired, and Ted Nolan eventually took over as coach. Despite the overhaul, the Sabres are still in rebuilding mode and currently sit in last place out of all the 30 NHL teams in the league.
Even with new faces to lead the organization, Miller's situation remains unclear.
"Still don't know what to say," Miller said via NHL.com. "There's been a change here. There was a change here before. So it's like waiting to see what the plan is and waiting to see what they have to offer. We haven't talked about anything with regards to contracts, talked about anything in regards to trades. They're doing their business."
Miller has a limited no-trade clause but may be asked to waive it before Friday's roster freeze or the March 5 NHL trade deadline.
"I have a limited no-trade agreement and that's something I put out there in the summer," he told NHL.com. "That's not something they approached about altering, changing or discussing. So let's just assume they're doing their business. I can't control it."
Miller has met with LaFontaine since he was hired, but maintained that the conversations he's had with him will be kept between just the two of them.
"It's a private conversation about a business transaction," Miller said, according to NHL.com. "That's what it comes down to. I'm waiting to see what kind of the plans are around here."
Miller has played in 38 games this season and is 14-21-3 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage, and it remains to be seen if the Sabres will move him.
Miller has a career 283-185-57 record with a 2.59 GAA and a .916 save percentage. He'll suit up for the Sabres for the 539th time in his career tonight, but will it be the last time he does it at home?
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