Ryan Miller traded to St. Louis Blues in blockbuster deal

[scottcarter]

<header> Ryan Miller traded to St. Louis Blues in blockbuster deal


</header> <figure>

<figcaption>Ryan Miller and Steve Ott are headed to the St. Louis Blues. (USATSI)</figcaption> </figure>More NHL: Scores | Standings | League Leaders | Odds | Injuries | Power Rankings



The big splash of the trade deadline came on Friday night when the St. Louis Blues acquired Ryan Miller and Steve Ott from the Buffalo Sabres for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a third-round pick in 2016.
The Blues confirmed the deal on their official website. Ott and Miller are expected to join the team in Phoenix for St. Louis' Sunday game against the Coyotes.
More to come.



http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444922

The first major trade domino has fallen.
Ryan Miller and Steve Ott have been traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a third-round draft pick in 2016.
The Sabres scratched both Miller and captain Steve Ott ahead of Friday night's home game against the San Jose Sharks. Neither player was on the ice for the team's warm-up at the First Niagara Center.
The Sabres currently sit last in the NHL with a 17-34-8 and are believed to be poised to move several veteran pieces in an effort to add future assets.
The 33-year-old Miller has posted a 15-22-3 record with the Sabres this season, with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
Originally selected in the fifth round (138th overall) by the Sabres at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Miller has spent his entire 11-year NHL career in Buffalo, posting a 284-186-1-56-28 record with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
Miller is in the final year of a five-year deal worth an average annual value of $6.25 million that he signed with the Sabres prior to the 2009-10 season.
Ott, 31, has appeared in 59 games with the Sabres this season, scoring nine goals and 11 assists.
He is in the final year of a four-year, $11.8 million contract and is slated to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1.
Ott was selected in the first round (25th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars and played nine seasons in Dallas before being traded to Buffalo in 2012.
In 673 career games with the Sabres and Stars, Ott has scored 103 goals and 161 assists while racking up 1,318 penalty minutes.
Halak, 28, has appeared in 40 games with the Blues this season recording a 24-9-4 record, with a 2.23 goals against average and a .917 save percentage.
He is currently in the final year of a four-year, $15 million contract he signed prior to the 2010-11 season and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Halak was selected in the ninth round (271st overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He has appeared in 260 career games with the Blues and Canadiens, posting a 139-81-26-29 record with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
The Slovakian has represented his country on numerous occasions including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he backstopped his team to a quarter-final upset over Sweden en route to a fourth-place finish. He was selected to represent Slovakia at the 2014 Olympic in Sochi, Russia where his team finished 11th.
In 58 games with the Blues this season, Stewart has scored 15 goals and 11 assists.
Currently in the first of a two-year deal he signed prior to this season, Stewart's contract carries an average annual value of $4.15 million.
Originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round (18th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Stewart has appeared in 377 career games with the Blues and Avalanche, scoring 115 goals and 113 assists.
He was acquired by the Blues along with Kevin Shattenkirk and a second round draft pick in the blockbuster deal that sent Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a first round pick to Colorado.
Carrier was selected in the second round (57th overall) by the Blues at the 2013 NHL Draft.
The 19-year-old left winger has scored 17 goals and 39 assists in 59 combined games with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Drummondville Voltigeurs so far in 2013-14.
The Sabres now possess 10 picks in the first two rounds of the 2014 and 2015 Drafts combined.

 

[slapshot]

Huge :toast:

 

[Doublelife]

nothing in hockey can be considered huge until it beats the spelling bee in ratings

 

[Akillies]

miller looked like shite in teh press conf.

 

[scottcarter]

Great deal for the Sabres!

 

[scottcarter]

the Blues GM got his pockets picks. !!!!
















Below: The Sabres GM right after the deal was made

 

[RenoChazz]

Sabres got the better of this trade IMO. Wonder why the blues are making such a big shake up when they are tied with Chicago for 1st in the Central division.

 

[nojuice9]

nothing in hockey can be considered huge until it beats the spelling bee in ratings

that's super funny, do you write your own stuff?

 

[scottcarter]

there's more ... if miller re-signs or if the blues get to the western final then get 1st rounders in this year and nextif miller re-signs or if the blues get to the western final then get 1st rounders in this year and next

 

[guil0000]

I think it's a good deal for both except for the first rounder (s) the blues didn't lose that much and they gain a goalie that can win them a stanley cup + a good role guy.

 

[niltes]

if you don't understand why this trade is huge for the blues, then you really don't
understand hockey. the blues are essentially all-in to win the cup this year.
financial considerations will cause them to make some tough choices NEXT
year, but that's in the future. the sabres have now dumped 3 impending free
agents-miller, ott, + vanek - and have received a boatload back. solid GM work
by murray.

 

[scottcarter]

if you don't understand why this trade is huge for the blues, then you really don't
understand hockey. the blues are essentially all-in to win the cup this year.
financial considerations will cause them to make some tough choices NEXT
year, but that's in the future. the sabres have now dumped 3 impending free
agents-miller, ott, + vanek - and have received a boatload back. solid GM work
by murray.

I understand hockey don't you worry.

Ott hasn't has a good season in 6+ years and he's a defensive liability. Miller isn't an upgrade over Halak. The stats show it. Chris Stewart is solid. Plus 2 young Canadian players and a 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick. So in other words, St. Louis who has one of the best records in the NHL, swaps goalies and essentially gives up one of their best players, 2 young prospects, a 1st round and 2nd round pick for Steve Ott.

Hockey fans in St. Louis must be scratching their heads this morning. And unless the Blues GM has another plan before the trade deadline, he just set back his team for years to come.

 

[niltes]

halak played for one of the best defensive teams in the NHL for the last few years.
miller did not. if you want to call these 2 goalies about even, you are sadly mistaken and
in the vast minority. losing a big body like the inconsistent stewart hurts a little, but
ott offsets that. stewart WAS NOT one of their best players. that being said, buffalo
did just fine and st louis is quite pleased too. trade benefits both teams, one in the
near term the other in the future.

 

[scottcarter]

Blues může lízat koule

 

[Defying]

I watched Miller this entire season, I can say with the utmost confidence I wouldn't want him as my teams goalie

 

[RenoChazz]

Should go down as one of the worst trades ever. Blues were #1 in the NHL when they made the trade, and fell to fourth in the West after the trade. What number one team in any sport would trade their most important position at the deadline? Millers good, but he's no longer in his prime. Halak is in his prime and was one of the best Goalies in the Western conference, plus they gave up a first round draft pick. Why shake up your team when you are the #1 team in the NHL?

 

[niltes]

the blues were very banged up down the stretch which is why they struggled.
even though they weren't 100% for the playoffs, they outplayed the hawks and
controlled the puck for longer stretches of time. in the end the hawks ultra mobile
defense and clutch play won them the series. NEVER underestimate the heart of
a champion.

 

[HarryCaray]

the blues were very banged up down the stretch which is why they struggled.
even though they weren't 100% for the playoffs, they outplayed the hawks and
controlled the puck for longer stretches of time. in the end the hawks ultra mobile
defense and clutch play won them the series. NEVER underestimate the heart of
a champion.

LOL ok

 

[HarryCaray]

St Louis fans are a trip man, I tell ya what.

"We were insanely lucky to win both of the first two games of the series (game tying goals in the last 2 minutes and then win in OT), THEN we lost 4 straight games, getting blown the fuck out in game 6...getting outscored 10-3 in 3 games in Chicago...but we outplayed them." OK

 

[niltes]

actually i am anaheim duck fan, but watch a lot of hockey.
personally, i didn't really care who won the stl/chi series.
but i must admit it was compelling well-played hockey.
either of those 2 teams could of won the cup with the right
bounces. shame they squared off in the opening round.