Miller to have number retired by Sabres

*Photo from the Buffalo Hockey Beat*

   A longtime Buffalo Sabre is getting his deserved honor. The Sabres organization announced on Friday morning that they will retire former goaltender Ryan Miller's number 30 and raise it to the rafters next season.

   In his 18 season NHL career, Miller spent the first 10 and a half seasons in a Sabres uniform, making his debut in 2002-2003, and staying with the Sabres up until midway through the 2013-2014 season, when he was sent to the St. Louis Blues.

   Miller told the Sabres website that "I've always appreciated my experience here as a member of the community. Coming here and playing hockey was a dream come true. Playing with a great NHL organization and building something with a great group of guys. But then to also feel at home in the city was important to me and to make myself a member of the community where I could give back in different ways."

   Across Miller's 10 and a half seasons with the Sabres, he has a 284-186-57 record, with a 2.60 GAA and .916 save percentage, appearing in 540 games with the Sabres, 403 of which were starts. In his entire NHL career, Miller has a 391-289-88 record, with a 2.64 GAA and .914 save percentage across 796 games.

   When Miller's number gets retired, he will join Dominik Hasek as the only two goalies to have their numbers retired by the Sabres. Miller is the Sabres franchise leader in games played, wins, and saves. He's also tied with Robin Lehner for second in team history for save percentage.

   Miller's most memorable stretch came in the mid 2000's with the Sabres, backstopping them to back to back conference finals appearances in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. In the 2009-2010 season, he took home the Vezina trophy with a .929 save percentage in 69 games. He also helped to carry Team USA to the gold medal game in the 2010 Winter Olympics, where they ultimately lost to Team Canada.

   When Miller gets his number officially retired, he'll become the 8th Sabres player to have their number retired. He'll join Hasek, Rick Martin, Tim Horton, Pat LaFontaine, Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert, and Danny Gare as Sabres to have their number retired.