Can I say it? Can I say it yet?
I TOLD YOU SO!
Ahhh… That feels good.
After a couple months of speculation and rumors, the Vancouver Canucks have finally landed a legitimate #1 goalie for the upcoming season(s). I wrote in a previous article how, as a Canucks fan, I wanted to see the Canucks bring in a veteran goaltender. Ryan Miller made sense then, and he obviously makes sense now, as the Canucks inked him to a 3 year, 18 million dollar deal yesterday. I have had many an argument with people who were on the side of “The Canucks don’t need a veteran goalie.. they have Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom!” To which I can finally say, WRONG! Lack will be a starting goalie.. someday. He just is not ready to handle the load of a full NHL season.
Why does this make sense for those in Canuckland? Well, it’s simple. The Canucks need a starting goalie who has the experience to be able to backstop a team who will be largely finding it’s identity over the course of next season (and potentially beyond). When things aren’t going well for the team, having a veteran like Miller in net to be able to hopefully steal some games will go a long way in our teams overall success or failure next year. Now I know what you are saying; “His numbers have gotten worse and worse over the past few seasons.. and look at his tenure in St. Louis!” I know. Believe me I know. However, something tells me that this team is going to be revitalized and hungry next year, and having a proven veteran goalie backstopping them will help boost the confidence of a team that had none when last season ended. A true fresh start should hopefully also help Miller find his Vezina Trophy winning form again.
Now, about the contract. Speculation was that Miller would probably be looking for a contract around the 4-5 year range, and the Canucks (fresh off of getting rid of a particularly long goalie contract) probably didn’t want to commit to a 33 year old goalie for that long. That is why the 3 year, 18 million dollar deal makes sense. The Canucks had (and still do) have quite a bit of cap space to work with, and getting the guy they were after at a term they wanted was worth the money. Like the guys on TSN said yesterday, “If you have the cap money to spend on players, don’t worry about the money as long as you get the players you need” While 6 million a year is probably a little high (only because we don’t know if anyone else was offering him a contract and for how much, they may have been able to get him for less) finding that common ground where the Canucks get the term they want and he gets the money he wants, there shouldn’t be too much worrying regarding this deal.
All this of course, before he steps on the ice and actually plays for the Canucks. If I know the fans here in Vancouver, I know that there will be a whole lot of “conversation” regarding Miller in the coming seasons. Hopefully we don’t add another body to our infamous “goalie graveyard”.
Welcome to Vancouver, Ryan!
You can follow James on Twitter: @hashtagswag604
