Former NAHL MVP Miller announces retirement from NHL

Ryan Miller was the NAHL Most Valuable Player during the 1998-99 season.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender and former NAHL Most Valubale Player Ryan Miller announced his retirement from the National Hockey League (NHL) at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. Miller will retire as the all-time leader among U.S.-born goaltenders in wins, currently with (390), second in shutouts (44) and games played (794). Throughout his illustrious career, he is the only player in hockey history to be named the top goaltender in the NHL, Winter Olympics and American Hockey League, and the NCAA's top player and best goaltender in his career.

Miller played in the NAHL for the Soo Indians for two seasons from 1997-99. He appeared in 84 career NAHL regular season games, posting a 52-29-0 record. During his MVP season in 1998-99, he appeared in 47 games and had a goals against average of 2.30 and a save percentage of .924 to go along with 8 shutouts.

Miller won the 2010 Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender, was named the Most Valuable Player and Best Goaltender in the 2010 Olympics, the 2005 American Hockey League's (AHL) Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's best goaltender, and the 2001 Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top collegiate player. He was also named the NCAA's best goaltender in 2001 and 2002 and holds the NCAA record with 26 shutouts.

"It was a dream come true when I played my first NHL game and it has been a privilege to spend 18 years as a professional," said Ryan Miller. "I have decided that I am going to retire after the season having been given more time doing what I love than I could ever have hoped for. Thank you to you my teammates and staff, past and present. I'm thankful to so many who made my career possible and helped me on my journey from youth hockey to the NHL. Thank you to my family for supporting me with so much love and enthusiasm."

"Congratulations to Ryan on a storied career. You inspired us with your play but also your charitable work throughout your 18 NHL seasons," said Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli. "We are so proud to say the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history set the record while playing for the Ducks. Congratulations on a fabulous career."

Miller, 40 (7/17/80), appeared in 18 seasons with Anaheim, Vancouver, St. Louis and Buffalo from 2002-21, posting a 390-289-87 record with a 2.64 goals-against average (GAA) and .914 save percentage (SV%) in 794 career NHL games. Originally selected by Buffalo in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 1999 NHL Draft, Miller made his NHL debut with the Sabres Nov. 19, 2002 at New Jersey. All-time, Miller ranks 14th on the NHL's wins list, 12th in saves (21,621) and 19th in games played (794). He also ranks fifth in SV% among all-time NHL goaltenders with 700 appearances. The only four others with a higher save percentage all-time are Hasek (.922), Roberto Luongo (.919), Henrik Lundqvist (.918) and Tomas Vokoun (.917).

Miller is the all-time leader among U.S.-born goaltenders in wins and is one of six goalies in NHL history to win 30 games in seven straight seasons (2006-12). He also leads American goaltenders in career SV% (.914) and ranks third in GAA (2.64) with at least 500 games played. Since his NHL debut in 2002-03, Miller ranks fourth among NHL goaltenders in wins, saves and appearances.

The East Lansing, Mich. native signed with Anaheim as a free agent July 1, 2017 and owns a 32-27-13 record with five shutouts, a 2.87 GAA and .911 SV% in 85 games with the Ducks. He won his 390th career game Mar. 18, 2021 vs. Arizona, passing Dominik Hasek (389) for 14th place on the NHL's all-time wins list for goaltenders and surpassed John Vanbiesbrouck (374) for the all-time lead among U.S.-born goaltenders in wins (375) on Feb. 17, 2019 vs. Washington.

Miller spent 11 seasons with Buffalo from 2002-14, going 284-186-57 in 540 games. He holds Sabres franchise records in career wins (284), appearances (540), minutes (21,660:48) and single-season wins (41 in 2009-10). He led Buffalo to the Eastern Conference Final in both 2006 and 2007, joining Dominik Hasek as the only Buffalo goaltender to reach consecutive Conference Finals.

Miller has made seven career trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Ducks, Canucks, Blues and Sabres. In 57 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, the 6-2, 170-pound goaltender went 28-27 with three shutouts, a 2.52 GAA and .913 SV%. Miller ranks second in Sabres postseason history wins (25), games played (47) and saves (1,336).

Miller represented Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games, leading the U.S. to a silver medal in 2010. He was named the MVP, Best Goaltender and an All-Star at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.35 GAA and .946 SV% in six tournament games. Overall, he went 6-1 with one shutout, a 1.30 GAA and .945 SV% in seven tournament games. His six Olympic wins are the second-most in Team USA history. Miller also represented his country at three World Championships (2001, 2002, 2003), posting two shutouts with a 2.09 GAA and .932 SV% in eight tournament contests.

In three seasons at Michigan State University from 1999-2002, Miller posted a 73-19-12 record with 26 shutouts, a 1.54 GAA and .941 SV% in 106 NCAA games. His 26 career shutouts remain an NCAA record. He was named the 2001 Hobey Baker Award winner as the top collegiate player, a two-time First Team All-American and a three-time CCHA Best Goaltender in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Miller is one of two goaltenders in NCAA history to win the Hobey Baker Award. He was named the 2001 Big Ten Men's Athlete of the Year and USA Hockey College Player of the Year, and was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award in 2002. In 2013-14 he was inducted into the Michigan State Hall of Fame.