Ryan Miller

Miller grew up in East Lansing, Michigan. He started playing youth hockey in California. In youth hockey, Miller originally played as a forward, however, Miller became frustrated with the poor play of his team's goaltender, so he begged his coach as well as his father, Dean Miller, to let him try it out. His father told him that if he could get two goals and three assists the next game he would buy Ryan a catching glove. Miller finished the game with two goals and three assists in the win.{{citation|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2478/bio/index.html|title=Ryan Miller – Biography|publisher=NBC|access-date=2010-05-12}} His brother Drew and cousins Kelly, Kevin and Kip all played in the NHL. All five attended Michigan State University, where Ryan Miller played goaltender for three years.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/sports/hockey/06miller.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Ryan%20Miller&st=cse|title=Sabres' Miller Has His Best Year at Best Time |last=Klein|first=Jeff Z.|date=December 5, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 7, 2009}}

File:020804JP 292 (25670380527).jpg in 2004]]

After three seasons with Michigan State, Miller moved to the American Hockey League (AHL), where he played for the Buffalo Sabres' affiliate, the Rochester Americans, from the 2002–03 season until the 2004–05 season. During the 2002–03 season, he played 15 regular season games for Buffalo. In the 2004–05 season, with the NHL not playing due to a lockout, he won 41 games for the Americans, tying Gerry Cheevers' record. He finished the season with a 2.45 GAA.

In 2004–05, the Americans were the North Division and Regular Season champions in the AHL. They lost in the division finals, however, to the Manitoba Moose.

Miller finished the 2005–06 season by establishing himself as the starting goaltender for the Sabres. He ranked 11th among NHL goaltenders with a 2.60 GAA and ninth in a save percentage, with .914. Miller led the Sabres to a surprise season, winning 30 games and advancing to the conference finals.

After the 2005–06 season, Miller became a restricted free agent and waived his right to arbitration. Mike Liut, Miller's agent, continued to negotiate with the Sabres through the summer. On September 8, 2006, the Sabres announced that they had re-signed Miller to a three-year contract.

File:RyanMiller.jpg in 2010.]]

The 2006–07 season would prove a successful one. In his first season starting with the number one job, Miller and his team won the first 10 games in a row. Miller was voted the starting goaltender for the Eastern Conference of the 2007 NHL All-Star Game. In a 12–9 loss, Miller played the first period and allowed three goals. Miller also gained a reputation of a shootout specialist with his technique of challenging the shooter outside the crease. That season he was 10–4 in shootouts, with Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils being his closest rival at 10 wins and 6 losses. In 63 games played that season, Miller posted a .911 save percentage and a 2.72 GAA backing a more offensively-oriented team.

In the post-season of that year, the Sabres advanced to their second conference finals in as many years, losing to the Ottawa Senators in five games. Miller posted a .922 save percentage and 2.22 GAA in the playoffs.

On October 11, the Sabres won their second home game of the 2007–08 season with a 6–0 win over the Atlanta Thrashers. Miller earned a shutout, stopping 20 shots in a game following the death of his 18-year-old cousin, Matt, who had died the Monday before of a complication with a bone-marrow transplant. At the close of the game, Miller raised his stick to the home crowd in tribute and received star honors for his effort in net.

File:Ryan Miller 6 2014-03-23.JPG

On January 1, 2008, Miller played with the Sabres in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, which was the first outdoor NHL game to be held in the United States. The game was played at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home to National Football League's Buffalo Bills, in Orchard Park, New York. The Sabres lost in a shoot-out to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Miller only allowed one goal (out of 25 shots) in regulation. On March 28, Miller played in his 73rd game of the season, breaking the Sabres franchise record for most games played in a season, passing Grant Fuhr, Dominik Hašek and Martin Biron. Miller finished the season with 76 games played, recording a 2.64 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

On July 18, 2008, Miller signed a five-year contract extension worth $31.25 million{{cite web | title = Sabres, Miller agree to five-year contract extension.

| publisher = LetsGoSabres.com | date = July 18, 2008 | url = http://www.letsgosabres.com/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10710 | access-date = 2008-07-18}} with the Sabres. The contract took effect at the start of the 2009–10 season. Miller suffered a high-end ankle sprain on February 22, 2009, in a game against the New York Rangers, which kept him out of action until late March. Despite Miller's strong 34–18–6 record during the 2008–09 season, the Sabres narrowly missed out on qualifying for a playoff berth.

File:Ryan Miller skating 2011-10-15.JPG

Miller's popularity in both Buffalo and for American hockey has spawned several nicknames, including "Miller Time" (after the Miller brewing company's advertising slogan), while the Toronto media has nicknamed him the "Leaf Killer: Ryan Miller" for his excellent success against one of the Sabres top rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In the 2009–10 season, Miller played exceptionally, with a GAA of under 2.00 before the Olympic break. He finished the season with a 2.22 GAA and a .929 save percentage. He led the Buffalo Sabres to a Northeast Division title and posted 41 wins, breaking his former record of 40 wins posted in 2006–07. His play became even more popular around the U.S after being nominated for the Vezina Trophy for the league's best goaltender. On June 23, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the 2010 NHL Award Ceremony, Miller was announced as the winner of the 2010 Vezina Trophy, beating New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur and Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. That same night, Miller also became the first American player to win the NHL Foundation Player Award.

Late in the 2010–11 season, on March 29, 2011, during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite finishing the game in a 4–3 losing cause,{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2010021135|title=Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs - March 29th, 2011|publisher= National Hockey League | date = 2011-03-29 | access-date = 2011-03-29}} Miller suffered what was later reported to be an "upper body injury."{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/30/ryan-miller-injury_n_842861.html | work=HuffPost | first=Craig | last=Kanalley | title=Ryan Miller Injury: Buffalo Sabres Goalie Suffers 'Upper Body' Ailment | date=March 30, 2011}} Initial speculation on the specifics of Miller's injury ranged from a concussion resulting from a Brian Rolston shot that rang off his mask, to a bruised collarbone from a Dion Phaneuf shot.{{cite web | url = https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/Hockey+World/4550412/story.html | title = Hockey roundup and rumors | work = Edmonton Journal | date = 2011-03-30 | access-date = 2011-03-30 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110817082633/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Hockey+World/4550412/story.html | archive-date = August 17, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}

On February 4, 2012, Miller surpassed Dominik Hašek as the franchise leader in career wins with 235 in a 4–3 shootout win against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. Miller accomplished this feat in six-and-a-half years as the starting goaltender for Buffalo, while it took Hašek nine years.{{cite web|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8468011|title=Ryan Miller Stats and News|publisher= Buffalo Sabres | date = 2012-02-02 | access-date = 2012-02-02}}

The 2012–13 NHL season did not go well for the Sabres, as they finished 12th in the Eastern Conference and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?type=con#&navid=nav-stn-conf|title=NHL Hockey 2016 Standings|publisher= National Hockey League | date = 2013-04-15 | access-date = 2013-04-15}} Miller finished the season with a 2.81 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

File:Ryan Miller 02-2015.JPG in 2015]]

On February 28, 2014, Miller and forward Steve Ott were traded from the Sabres to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Jaroslav Halák, Chris Stewart, William Carrier and two future draft picks.{{cite web|url=http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=706959|title=Blues Acquire Miller, Ott from Buffalo|publisher= St. Louis Blues | date = 2014-02-28 | access-date = 2014-02-28}} He would make his Blues debut along with Ott on March 3, stopping 23 shots in a 4–2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes. Miller and the Blues lost in the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs to the defending 2013 Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks.

On May 19, the Blues signed Brian Elliott to a three-year contract and Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong announced that Elliott would join Jake Allen to form their goaltending tandem. Miller was not re-signed.

Miller became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2014, and signed a three-year, $18 million contract to become the starting goaltender with the Vancouver Canucks.{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=456177 | title = Canucks sign free agent G Miller to three-year contract | publisher = The Sports Network | date = 2014-07-01 | access-date = 2014-07-01}} On October 28, Miller became the 30th goaltender in NHL history to reach 300 career wins. He made 29 saves as the Canucks beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4–1. On January 30, 2015, after beating his former team, the Buffalo Sabres, 5–2, Miller has beaten every team in the NHL at least once. However, on February 22, Miller was injured after Jannik Hansen crashed into him, ending his night as he and Eddie Lack combined for a shutout over the New York Islanders. He would miss the next 21 games. After 22 games of not being on ice, Miller returned to start the last game of the regular season as the Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers, 6–5.

After concluding his three-year contract with the Canucks, Miller left as a free agent and signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks on July 1, 2017.{{cite web| url = http://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/01/ducks-lock-up-cam-fowler-for-eight-years-sign-goalie-ryan-miller/ | title = Ducks lock up Cam Fowler for eight years, sign Ryan Miller | publisher = OC Register | date = 2017-07-01 | access-date = 2017-07-01}} He began the 2017–18 season on the injured-reserve list due to a lingering wrist injury.{{cite web| url = http://www.ocregister.com/2017/10/12/ducks-notes-ryan-millers-debut-at-least-a-few-weeks-away/ | title = Ryan Miller still waiting to make his debut | publisher = OC Register | date = 2017-10-12 | access-date = 2017-10-12}} In his return to health, Miller was able to make his debut with the Ducks in a 4–3 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on October 29, 2017.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/recap-miller-shines-in-debut-lifts-ducks-to-4-3-shootout-victory/c-292413726 | title = Miller shines in debut | publisher = Anaheim Ducks | date = 2017-10-29 | access-date = 2017-10-29}} On February 17, 2019, Miller became the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history, surpassing John Vanbiesbrouck.{{cite web |last1=Teaford |first1=Elliott |title=Ducks goalie Ryan Miller praised after breaking John Vanbiesbrouck's record |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2019/02/18/ducks-goalie-ryan-miller-praised-after-breaking-john-vanbiesbroucks-record/ |website=Orange County Register |access-date=January 20, 2023 |date=February 18, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Ryan Miller becomes winningest US-born goalie in Ducks' win |url=https://www.ballysports.com/west-socal/news/ryan-miller-becomes-winningest-us-born-goalie-in-ducks-win-3138824 |website=Bally Sports |access-date=January 20, 2023 |date=February 18, 2019}}

On June 20, 2019, Miller was re-signed by the Ducks to return for a third season with the club,{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-sign-miller-holzer-grant-to-one-year-contract-extensions/c-307938102 | title = Ducks sign Miller, Holzer, Grant to one-year contract extensions | publisher = Anaheim Ducks | date = June 20, 2019 | access-date = June 20, 2019}} agreeing to a one-year $2.235 million contract extension.{{cite web |last1=Teaford |first1=Elliott |title=Ducks goalie Ryan Miller, 39, explains why he came back |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2019/10/01/ducks-goalie-ryan-miller-39-explains-why-he-came-back/ |website=Orange County Register |access-date=January 20, 2023 |date=1 October 2019}} On December 23, 2020, Miller was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Ducks.{{cite web |title=Ducks Sign Goaltender Miller to One-Year Contract Through 2020-21 |url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-sign-miller-to-one-year-contract-through-2020-21/c-319883188 |website=NHL.com |access-date=December 24, 2020 |date=December 23, 2020}}

On April 29, 2021, Miller announced he would retire from the NHL at the end of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web| url = https://theathletic.com/news/ducks-ryan-miller-winningest-american-goalie-in-nhl-history-retires/y3ELQfIbuRcG | title = Ducks' Ryan Miller, winningest American goalie in NHL history, retires | publisher = The Athletic | date = 2021-04-29 | access-date = 2021-04-29}} Miller played his final NHL game, a 4–3 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild in which Victor Rask scored the game winning goal 2:46 into the overtime period on May 8, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Pierce |first1=Jessi |title=Wild defeat Ducks again, keep pace in West playoff race |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-minnesota-wild-game-recap/c-324338120 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 20, 2023 |date=May 8, 2021}} The Buffalo Sabres retired Miller's number 30 on January 19, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Engel |first1=Heather |title=Miller has No. 30 retired by Sabres, inducted into their Hall of Fame |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/buffalo-sabres-retire-ryan-miller-jersey-number/c-340171324 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 20, 2023 |date=January 19, 2023}} On September 8, 2022, it was announced that Miller would be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.{{cite web |last1=Morreale |first1=Mike G. |title=Miller among five elected to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ryan-miller-among-five-elected-to-us-hockey-hall-of-fame/c-335490672 |website=NHL.com |access-date=November 11, 2022 |date=September 8, 2022}}

{{MedalTableTop|RyanMiller2010WinterOlympics - cropped-2.png|180px|Miller at the 2010 Winter Olympics|name=no}}

{{MedalSport | Men's ice hockey}}

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}

{{MedalSilver | 2010 Vancouver|}}

{{MedalBottom}}

Miller was made a reserve for the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, but he did not play.

Miller was selected as starting goaltender for the US in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He led the team to a perfect 5–0 start, including a 5–3 win over gold-medal favorite Canada in the preliminary round, stopping 42 of 45 shots. The five wins, including victories over Switzerland and Finland in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, brought the US to the gold medal game, where they faced Canada for the second time. In the gold medal game, the U.S. lost 3–2 in overtime despite Miller's 36 saves, as Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner in his second scoring attempt, after his first was saved by Miller. The US, however, won the silver medal in large part due to Miller's 5–0–1 record, and Miller was named the most valuable player of the tournament. Miller finished with a save percentage of .946 and a GAA of 1.35, both American Olympic records.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=519346|title=Miller carries Team USA to superb tournament}} Miller also won International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) best goaltender honors and was named to the All-Star team.{{cite web |url= http://www.iihf.com/channels10/olympics-2010/news/news-singleview-world-championship-2009/article/miller-gets-mvp-honours.html?tx_ttnews |title= Miller gets MVP honours |publisher= iihf.com |date= February 28, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604131318/http://www.iihf.com/channels10/olympics-2010/news/news-singleview-world-championship-2009/article/miller-gets-mvp-honours.html?tx_ttnews |archive-date= June 4, 2011 |df= mdy-all }}

After his selection to the US roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, head coach Dan Bylsma named Jonathan Quick the team's starting goaltender over Miller and fellow Olympic teammate Jimmy Howard. Miller would go on to start and play in one of the US's six games. (Quick played in the other five.) In his one and only game, Miller made 17 saves in a 5–1 win against Slovenia. The US, however, did not medal in Sochi, and Miller finished the tournament with a 1–0 record, a 1.00 GAA, and a .944 save percentage.

• Least saves required in a win: (Anaheim Jan. 25, 2018) 11:40 min: 0
• Most shootout wins by a goaltender in a season: 10

• Franchise leader in goaltender games (540)
• Franchise leader in goaltender minutes (31,661)
• Franchise leader in career wins (284)
• Franchise record for most wins in a season (41 in 2009–10)

• Best career goals against average (1.30)
• Goaltender assists all-time (1)

• Goals against average all-time (1.54)
• Save percentage career (.941)
• Shutouts career (26)

Miller married actress Noureen DeWulf on September 3, 2011.{{cite web| url = http://registry.weddingchannel.com/coupledir/20119/D/R321444210/NOUREEN_DEWULF_AND_RYAN_MILLER.htm | title = Noureen DeWulf and Ryan Miller | publisher = weddingchannel.com | date = 2011-09-03 | access-date = 2011-09-03}} On September 11, 2014, it was announced that the couple were expecting their first child.{{Cite web|url = http://celebritybabies.people.com/2014/09/11/noureen-dewulf-pregnant-ryan-miller-expecting-second-child/|title = Ryan Miller and Noureen DeWulf Expecting First Child|date = September 11, 2014|access-date = September 11, 2014}} Their son was born in March 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia.{{Cite web|url = http://celebritybabies.people.com/2015/03/20/noureen-dewulf-ryan-miller-welcome-son-bodhi-ryan/|title = Ryan Miller and Noureen DeWulf Welcome Son Bodhi Ryan|date = March 20, 2015|access-date = March 20, 2015}} Their daughter was born in April 2022 in Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web|url = https://mobile.twitter.com/RyanMiller3039/status/1511735060327800833|title = This beautiful young lady is named Kaia|date = April 4, 2022|access-date = April 24, 2022}}

In 2006, Miller, along with his father Dean, started the Steadfast Foundation which supports cancer patients and their families. Miller began the foundation after his cousin was diagnosed with leukaemia.{{cite web |last1=Gracia |first1=Marcie |title=Miller lends a Steadfast hand |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/miller-lends-a-steadfast-hand/c-370366 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=November 8, 2018 |date=January 24, 2008}}

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{{commons category|Ryan Miller}}

• {{Ice hockey stats}}

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{{succession box | before = Mark Kosick | title = CCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament | years = 2000, 2001 | after = Michael Cammalleri}}

{{succession box | before = Award created | title = CCHA Goaltender of the Year | years = 2000–01, 2001–02 | after = Mike Betz}}

{{succession box | before = Shawn Horcoff | title = CCHA Player of the Year | years = 2000–01, 2001–02 | after = Chris Kunitz}}

{{succession box | before = Mike Mottau | title = Winner of the Hobey Baker Award | years = 2000–01 | after = Jordan Leopold}}

{{succession box | before = Ron Dayne | title = Big Ten Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year | years = 2000–01 | after = Jordan Leopold}}

{{succession box | before = Tim Thomas | title = Winner of the Vezina Trophy | years = 2010 | after = Tim Thomas}}

{{succession box | before = Jason LaBarbera | title = Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award | years = 2004–05 | after = Dany Sabourin}}

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{{Big Ten Athlete of the Year}}

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Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans

Category:American men's ice hockey goaltenders

Category:Anaheim Ducks players

Category:Big Ten Athlete of the Year winners

Category:Buffalo Sabres draft picks

Category:Buffalo Sabres players

Category:Hobey Baker Award winners

Category:Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Category:Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics

Category:Ice hockey players from Michigan

Category:Medalists at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Category:Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey players

Category:National Hockey League All-Stars

Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in ice hockey

Category:Sportspeople from East Lansing, Michigan

Category:Rochester Americans players

Category:Soo Indians players

Category:St. Louis Blues players

Category:Vancouver Canucks players

Category:Vezina Trophy winners

Category:United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductees

Category:21st-century American sportsmen