Ryan Miller

Vancouver's Ryan Miller on leaving Buffalo: 'It was hard to let that go'

Published Nov. 6, 2015 2:12 p.m. ET

foxsports

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller has an opportunity to reflect on the biggest change in his NHL career when he mans the net Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. Miller was drafted by the Sabres in the 1999 NHL Draft and remained with the organization until he was traded to the Blues in March of 2014. Although he started to break through as the Sabres' go-to goalie in 2005-06 and had two years of time as a real playoff competitor with the team, his tenure in Buffalo was mostly while the team was mediocre at best.

Still, Miller said leaving Buffalo was tough.

"I thought I was pretty ready (to leave Buffalo) but it was a little harder than I thought it would be," Miller told reporters recently. "People talk about ‘you’re paid to do a job and you’re a professional, so just go do your job.’ For me and a core group of guys in Buffalo, it was about something we were building, and we really bought into the idea that we were entrusted with something and were trying to bring it to a certain place. It was hard to let that go."

Miller spent half a season with the Blues before signing as a free agent with the Canucks ahead of the 2014-15 season. The goalie has yet to play in a game against the Sabres, however, as he missed last season's game with an injury and never played against the Sabres while he was with St. Louis.

That streak will end Saturday, as Miller is expected to be in goal for the Canucks against his former team, and it is sure to be a night of mixed emotions for Miller.

(h/t National Post)

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Ryan Miller

Vancouver Canucks

Buffalo Sabres

National Hockey League