How the Anaheim Ducks can best use backup goalie Ryan Miller

Anaheim Ducks Ryan Miller is one of the best goalies in NHL history. At age 38, father time is catching up with him. This is how the Ducks can get the most out of their number two netminder in 2017-18.

Anaheim Ducks goalie Ryan Miller has a very long list of NHL credentials. His 370 career wins rank 18th all-time. It’s astounding he’s won that many games considering he missed almost a season and a half due to work stoppages, not to mention backstopping some awful teams in Buffalo during his career.

His total is three wins short of becoming the leader among American born players. If he can squeeze out 30 more career wins, he will come close to locking up a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. With the exception of Curtis Joseph and Chris Osgood, every retired goalie with 400 or more wins is in the HoF, and Cujo’s turn is coming soon.

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Then there is the 2001 Hobey Baker Award, 2009-10 Vezina Trophy, a heroic 2010 Olympic Silver medal, and 43 NHL shutouts. For the 2018-19 Ducks it’s a nice resume, but aside from mentoring purposes, doesn’t help the team. The Anaheim Ducks need a reliable number two goalie who can give starter John Gibson an occasional rest.

Game Limits

NHL regular seasons consist of 82 games over six months. Between travel, bumps and bruises, and mental strain, it can be grueling for a number one goalie. He needs some time off. Over his career, Gibson has needed more time off due to injuries than his peers. It’s why the backup job in Anaheim is different from most other places.

Last year Gibson played in 60 regular season games for the first time. Several of those games, he left the ice early because he was hurt. Miller was an invaluable replacement going 12-6-6 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.

His totals were great, but the eye test showed a little more. He got fatigued when he had to play extended periods of time. For goalies, they often get better with the more rubber they face. It’s the opposite for Miller. Starting back-to-back games, or three in four days is a monumental task at age 37. Now a year older, the Ducks need to limit Miller to somewhere around 19-21 starts. That is if Gibson stays healthy.

When is just as important

Not only does Anaheim have to limit the starts, they need to be smart about when they happen. 20 starts over six months is a little over three per month. The Ducks have nine back-to-backs next season, two in November, and February; one in December, and January; and three in March. Miller has to start at least one game in each back-to-back series.

The Ducks can’t let Miller sit all October so he’ll probably make one start during the four games in six days between the 20th-25th. In January, Anaheim has a five-game central/east road trip that Miller could start the first game and then play against St. Louis on January 23rd, the last game before a nine-day break. If Miller starts March 26 in Vancouver (maybe his last trip there), Gibson would have five to six days off before the final four games of the regular season and playoffs.

That brings the total to 13 and coach Randy Carlyle can give Miller the other half dozen or so starts at his discretion. Additionally, number three goalie Jared Coreau should keep a “go-bag” ready in San Diego, because if it comes down to it, Anaheim needs to avoid overtaxing Miller.

Used sparingly, Ryan Miller is an outstanding backup. Overused he can become a liability. The Ducks need to be smart with how often and when they use him.