The Buffalo Sabres have acquired defenseman Colin Miller from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick (originally from St. Louis) and a 2022 fifth-round pick. Miller has three years remaining on his contract with a $3.875MM cap hit.
As the Golden Knights continue to try and get under the salary cap the 27-year old defenseman was the next likely candidate to be moved out after they traded Erik Haula earlier this week. That’s not necessarily because of his play though, as Miller has played quite well since arriving in Vegas through the expansion draft. In 147 games with the team he recorded 70 points, often from a booming slap shot either going straight in or providing rebound opportunities for his teammates. Originally a fifth-round pick in 2012 by the Los Angeles Kings, Miller’s ascension to legitimate top-four ability has been slow and steady but may receive its best opportunity in Buffalo.
Miller may well get a chance to play with Rasmus Dahlin next season as the young phenom continues his transition to a star in the NHL. Rasmus Ristolainen, Brandon Montour, Zach Bogosian and Casey Nelson all represent other right-handed options, meaning another move may be soon to follow for Buffalo GM Jason Botterill. For now though, their group already looks much improved from the one that started last season.
Vegas meanwhile will take the picks and run, happy to have gotten something in return for another cap dump. The team has young defensemen in Zach Whitecloud and Nicolas Hague pushing for an NHL opportunity, and could already probably afford to give Nate Schmidt even more responsibility. The question will be whether they bring back (or can even afford to bring back) veteran Deryk Engelland for another season, or just fill the remaining blue line minutes internally.
If this is the precursor to another move by the Sabres, they could be holding court in the next few days. The free agent defenseman market is razor thin (especially on the right side) and has already led several teams to pursue trade acquisitions instead. Miller joins a group of defensemen including Jacob Trouba, Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun, Radko Gudas, Olli Maatta, Calvin de Haan, Kevin Connauton, Gustav Forsling and of course P.K. Subban to be traded over just the last couple of weeks.
Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports was first to report a deal was close, while Bob McKenzie of TSN reported the details of the return.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Great job by Vegas to unload both Haula and Miller to get themselves cap compliant (once Clarkson is moved to LTIR). Both decent players, but not really a spot for them in Vegas.
Another solid pickup for relative no cost. Man Sabres defense is looking quite better. But as soon as I read this first thing I can think of is a Risto trade coming.
It’s not a great job by Vegas, losing quality players who are not being replaced, makes the team weaker. Terrible cap management by McPhee.
Terrible cap management is what put them in this spot (having to unload players) in the first place.
They got a 2nd out of a cap dump. Not a bad haul. Sabres has a 2nd to move. Cap being lower than originally thought it would be has put teams in a rather cap crunch. Though under 4mill per year for a top 4 dman is rather cheap and low cap dump.
Isn’t it also what got them to the finals in their first year as a franchise? Things could be a lot worse (ie: as it was for almost every other recent expansion franchise in nhl history).
A Second and a fifth for a guy everyone was expecting to be traded from the moment he was benched in game one of the playoffs
Another quality defender traded and the Maple Leafs once again not involved. They better get this Marner situation figured out soon. But still how stupid for them to sit around and wait on one player before making imperative upgrades defensively. They resign both Kapanen and Johnsson when one should be traded for D help. Waiting for Marner doesnt mean that you cannot work out trades involving the likes of Johnsson/Kadri/Brown! Dubas and Shanahan are allowing the Leafs to slip out of the playoff picture. With or without Marner this club isn’t even a playoff team with no defense.
brad I agree for that price I certainly would have gone for Miller. hard to find a top4 rhd for under 4 but as you said, they are hamstrung by mitch. trading others is difficult as if you dont sign mitch but trade kadri or brown, now you are down two starters.
I wanted the Pens to find a way to get Miller and/or Haula. Lame.
Adding Montour and now Miller is a big help for the Sabres.
You are clueless
That’s for vanderberg
care to elaborate goalieguy? calling a guy clueless could use some backup.
No disrespect to Toronto, due to Marner they are experiencing deja vous as in the Nylander saga, now it will hurt Toronto’s chances unless things get done to not get a right handed Defenseman , get rid of contracts by Hainsey, Zaitsev would and should be first on table for Leafs, the need the cap room , good decisions on Johansson and Kapanen to take lesser contracts which shows they care about their future with the Leafs, now retain Kadri, and move on from Nylander for a RH-D Man, and 4th rounder it will allow them to give Kadri his spot on team and sign Marner.
If I’m Toronto, I would have gone after defensemen. I would have been willing to let marner price himself out. If someone tenders him an offer sheet, the leafs will end up better for it (4 firsts). But to let a guy hold your entire franchise hostage is an incredibly weak move by the front office.
Congrats on winning the tavares sweepstakes, but your window is closing right in front of your face, all because you didn’t have the stones to make a tough decision.
At the risk of being a long post, I’ll carify one thing.
How did you not think this would happen (in one way or another) after you already had Matthews and marner, then signed tavares? Poor preparation in my book.
Marner is a descent young player but no disrespect , he isn’t worth a 4 firsts , any team that offers that for Marner needs their head examined , by Gritty, and the Vancouver Blue Men. As said they went through the same thing last year with Nylander, and your right because Toronto brass don’t have the stones to put their foot down on the young guys wanting more money than core guys like Matthews, Tavares, Kadri, Reilly, Andersen.
Me clueless. … no. Sounds like Dubas and Shanahan are for the Leafs. Losing 3 of your top 4 defensemen and doing nothing about it. That’s clueless!
You’re good Brad.. no worries. Not sure what goalie guy is talking about and of course he doesn’t elaborate it all. Very strange. Drive by with no backup.
Pretty excited about the Sabres this coming year. Making some good moves. Been waiting for a few years now for them to put it together. It’s been awhile, since maybe the dominik Hasek days.
3 of their top 4? not sure where you have Muzzin but it’s in the wrong place. they are losing arguably 3 guys who are 2nd and 3rd line pairing guys. I agree the defense needs addressing but I’m ok with gardner and hainsey going. zaitsev I know money and preference wise has to go but played better when away from Jake.
To those bemoaning the loss of Haula and Miller, would you rather have kept them and not brought players like Stone, Stastny and Pacioretty in? With Cody Glass moving up to the big club next season, there was no spot for Haula. Miller certainly would help with their depth at D, but someone had to get moved.