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There is one thing that the Buffalo area is completely committed to, and it is not the downtown waterfront project; it is the Buffalo Sabres hockey team.
Second-year owner Terry Pegula has done everything to put a strong team together and build a large fan base in the Queen City, including handing out Sabres blankets to every newborn baby in the city to start a new hockey movement citywide. The fans have responded, as the 2013 ticket sales are currently going through the roof.
Goaltender Ryan Miller has always been a reliable fantasy hockey netminder, but his value has fallen drastically in recent seasons. Injuries caused Buffalo to consistently struggle to field the same team in front of Miller in recent season, and their lack of chemistry showed game after game.
Additionally, Miller posted his second consecutive season with a Goals Against Average (GAA) over 2.50, and it was also the second season in a row in which he racked up over 20 losses. This is a little concerning from a former All-Star goalie, but it could simply be attributed to the superstar goaltender falling into a slump. Miller has really impressed in camp and seems ready to finally turn it around.
Miller posted a career-high six shutouts last season, and his 31 wins certainly made him a reliable option in the net for fantasy owners. He also saved 91.6 % of the shots he faced for two consecutive seasons, and he really turned things around as the year closed. This is very promising heading into the shortened 2013 season for fantasy owners.
Buffalo is still very high on Miller’s backup Jhonas Enroth, as the 24-year-old second stringer finished the year with a respectable 2.70 GAA. However, this is Miller’s team and his starting job, so don’t expect the former US Olympic Goaltender to receive less than four starts per week. Miller is now 32-years old and for a goaltender, that is the prime of their career.
Miller will be an amazing starting goaltender during this shortened season, even though the former top-5 goalie is falling well out of the top 10. He will be a great value pick for anyone looking to stock up on netminders this season, or for anyone looking for a great value pick in the crease.
The 2013 fantasy hockey season will once again be Miller Time.
