Ryan Miller will join Dominik Hasek in the Sabres’ rafters

Former NHL goalie Ryan Miller is back in Buffalo this week and was welcomed with terrific news. On Friday, Kevin Weekes of ESPN first reported that the Sabres will retire Miller’s number. He will join Dominik Hasek as the only two goalies in their franchise history to have their sweater retired.

This incredible achievement comes right after Miller was selected for induction by the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame afforded his family the chance.

Miller was drafted in the fifth round, 138th overall by the Sabres in 1999 and spent most of his career in Buffalo before he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline in 2014. He went on to play for the Vancouver Canucks and then Anaheim, where he capped off his career with the Ducks in 2021. He finished with 391 wins, tops in NHL history among American goalies and 14th on the all-time list. He is the Sabres’ all-time leader 284, putting him 50 ahead of Dominik Hasek.

On April 29, 2021, Miller announced he would retire from the NHL at the end of the 2020–21 season. He played his final NHL game, a 4–3 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild in which Victor Rask scored the game winning goal on May 8, 2021.
He still has the most wins by a United States-born goalie in NHL history. He is 390-289-86 with one tie, a 2.64 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 44 shutouts in 794 games (770 starts) in 18 NHL seasons with the Sabres, Blues, Canucks and Ducks. He was 28-27 with a 2.52 GAA, .913 save percentage and three shutouts in 57 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

And now his jersey will go up the rafters in Buffalo next season.

The Sabres confirmed the news moments later. Congrats, Miller!