Who should be the Sabres starter in G

[Swedesessed]

It is said that no starter should lose their job to an injury, but given Marty's performance over the last month or so, and considering that he has been the Sabres starter before as recently as the last season there was hockey, makes me think this might be a harder question to answer then it looks on the surface.

 

If Biron continues playing this well, do you mess with the overall chemistry of the team if you go back to Miller? Miller did pla well however...

 

Would you trade Biron and just keep Noronen as the backup??

 

Do you just go with the hot hand?

 

Looking forward to your thoughts.

[deluca67]

Marty has played well. But I would still trade him if the price (top 3 blueliner) was right.

That said. I would trade Miller if the price is right.

 

This is a point where you have step away from the emotion of the topic. Miller is young and can be great. But if a team offers a #1 defensemen and maybe a top prospect or a top line forward? You have to do what improves the team. Not just now but down the road.

[Corp000085]

its only logical that the sabres are going to stay with miller and trade marty away... Marty has done two things since miller got injured. He's

1) played well to lead the sabres to victory.

2) increased his trade value from nothing to at least something

 

There should really be no debate on the topic. If you stay with marty now, you're sending the wrong message. Miller has little trade value at the moment, mika is just mika, and you're still stuck with marty. It's sorta like the bledsoe/jp debate on the bills side from last year... miller will be the starter, mika will be the backup, and marty has just blessed the team with a draft pick, and maybe a 4th liner over the past month instead of a bag of pucks.

[Knightrider]

Miller comes back in. But unless he is Hasek quality, he ought to be on the table if the offer is right...

 

I'd prefer Biron gone only because of his salary...

[pwner]

Miller has little trade value at the moment

This isn't true at all.

 

Miller would easily bring the best return as he is the youngest, cheapest, and most talented of the Sabres goaltenders.

[LabattBlue]

This isn't true at all.

 

Miller would easily bring the best return as he is the youngest, cheapest, and most talented of the Sabres goaltenders.

First off Miller is only 3 years younger than Biron(25 versus 28). It's not like he is a 20 year old highly regarded prospect ala Fluery of the Pens). Also, Miller has not proven hardly anything at the NHL level. My point being, I'm not positive that Miller has that much more trade value than Marty.

 

That being said, I'd trade Marty and hope that Miller can become a bonafide #1 NHL goaltender.

[hopeleslyobvious]

First off Miller is only 3 years younger than Biron(25 versus 28). It's not like he is a 20 year old highly regarded prospect ala Fluery of the Pens). Also, Miller has not proven hardly anything at the NHL level. My point being, I'm not positive that Miller has that much more trade value than Marty.

 

That being said, I'd trade Marty and hope that Miller can become a bonafide #1 NHL goaltender.

I definately think Miller should get the job back and Biron should be traded. I know some of the Biron fans on here will point to how he's gotten into a groove lately, but...I don't think we've seen Miller in a groove yet. There is a reason why some sportswriters expect him to make a lot of noise when it's time to select Team USA for the Olympics.

[chileanseabass]

miller should be starting, biron should be dealt, noronen should be the backup. with the extra space under the cap they should go out and get a good defenceman.

 

nothing new and original in this post

[deluca67]

This isn't true at all.

 

Miller would easily bring the best return as he is the youngest, cheapest, and most talented of the Sabres goaltenders.

But what should it cost a team for Miller? Boston got some nice talent back for Thorton but I don't believe it was mind blowing. I think it comes down to that every player, including Briere, can be had if the value is right. I beleive Regier has said as much in the past.

[jayg]

Miller was soft last year in the playoffs for Rochester. MArty is a notoriously slow starter and is playing extremely well right now. Keep them both!

[pwner]

Miller was soft last year in the playoffs for Rochester.

Yeah, if you call a .909 save percentage soft.

 

Of course, you chose to ignore two years ago in the playoffs when he had a .934 and 2 SOs.

[deluca67]

Yeah, if you call a .909 save percentage soft.

 

Of course, you chose to ignore two years ago in the playoffs when he had a .934 and 2 SOs.

I think .909 is soft? Right now there are 15 goalies in the AHL with a SV% of .909 or higher and 13 in the NHL. It's a middle of the pack number.

 

That said. I didn't see Miller at all in the ROC so I don't know if his play was "soft". I know from this year he has had almost one goal a game he would like back, Ruff has made mention of it. The worst being the one in Florida. I am willing to chalk that up to youth.

 

The kids good. He will be really good if he keeps working at it. Maybe keeping Marty around to push him would be a good thing. And maybe having Miller is what Marty needed.

 

Is it possible they would both fall off in one left?

[DrunkenSabre]

First off Miller is only 3 years younger than Biron(25 versus 28). It's not like he is a 20 year old highly regarded prospect ala Fluery of the Pens). Also, Miller has not proven hardly anything at the NHL level. My point being, I'm not positive that Miller has that much more trade value than Marty.

 

That being said, I'd trade Marty and hope that Miller can become a bonafide #1 NHL goaltender.

the pens couldnt trade anything for fleury when they tried.

 

why are we thinking of trading miller? him and biron have done us fantastically. should we be looking to trade noronen. his value may be low but it gets him out of our hair and he has had a couple of good games.

[PromoTheRobot]

You are making a HUGE assumption that Miller will be able to pick up right where he left off before the injury. I say ride the horse that's winning. If Biron is gettng the job done, stay with him. Trade Noronen instead. The only reason I'd pull the trigger on Biron is if you can get an unbelievable offer for him.

 

PTR

[Mags]

I'm happy with Biron's play but let Miller get his legs under him and then put him back into the starter's role. If Marty keeps playing well, give him every 4th or 5th game but Miller should remain the starter. If Miller has a total meltdown, then think about making a change.

[Saber61]

You are making a HUGE assumption that Miller will be able to pick up right where he left off before the injury. I say ride the horse that's winning. If Biron is gettng the job done, stay with him. Trade Noronen instead. The only reason I'd pull the trigger on Biron is if you can get an unbelievable offer for him.

 

PTR

agreed with this...after i saw the first 2 games that noronen played i thought he was gonna be the man to stay with us until miller came back... but biron has taken over despite noronens injury and played really well. i think keeping him and miller would be great... then when its time to re-sign either axe biron or give him a paycut and re-direct funds to give miller a bigger contract... <--- this is all depending on the outcome of who really is the better goalie overall.

[Rabbit151]

The Golden Rule of Hockey.

 

Play the goalie who is winning games.

Personally, I don't think Biron will win a Cup, but he is the better tender right now.

He is winning. Play him.

[Swedesessed]

The Golden Rule of Hockey.

 

Play the goalie who is winning games.

Personally, I don't think Biron will win a Cup, but he is the better tender right now.

He is winning. Play him.

I couldnt agree more.

 

And Ive never been a huge Marty fan, but its almost impossible at this point to bench Marty or start a half and half rotation till Marty struggles.

[inkman]

You are making a HUGE assumption that Miller will be able to pick up right where he left off before the injury. I say ride the horse that's winning. If Biron is gettng the job done, stay with him. Trade Noronen instead. The only reason I'd pull the trigger on Biron is if you can get an unbelievable offer for him.

 

PTR

I agree but the only thing you are going to get for Mikka is Bob Corkum.

[Saber61]

I don't know about this but Biron is looking like the Giguire of old in the Playoffs when the ducks made it that one year... EVERYTHING is going his way... every bounce every post hit combined with really strong play... its great to see. hopefully it will last... at least if it doesn't we still have miller to fall back on or maybe they'll throw miller in right away.

[LabattBlue]

Because of Biron's recent play, I have become torn on this subject. Part of me says...

 

"Biron is playing lights out, trade him and a quality prospect and/or pick ASAP while his value is high for a quality defenseman".

 

The other part of me says...

 

"Maybe Biron has brought his game to a new level and the Sabres should ride him for the rest of 05/06. If so, consider trading Miller??"

 

 

I still lean towards the first scenario. What do you do?

[nfreeman]

Because of Biron's recent play, I have become torn on this subject. Part of me says...

 

"Biron is playing lights out, trade him and a quality prospect and/or pick ASAP while his value is high for a quality defenseman".

 

The other part of me says...

 

"Maybe Biron has brought his game to a new level and the Sabres should ride him for the rest of 05/06. If so, consider trading Miller??"

 

 

I still lean towards the first scenario. What do you do?

 

 

I would keep starting Marty during this winning streak. I think it's crazy to mess with the kind of success we're having. Sooner or later we are going to lose though and then I would give Miller 2 starts in a row to see how he handles it. It won't be fair to judge him based on just 1 start b/c he will almost certainly be rusty (like Briere was last night).

 

Bottom line: if Miller plays to the form he was at pre-injury, I would trade Marty before the deadline b/c his trade value ought to be pretty high right now. I don't think he's turned the corner and become the goalie for us to count on for the future. I (optimistically) think Miller is that guy.

 

Payback time for the GD Dallas Stars coming soon. Yes, I'm still bitter.

 

Go Sabres.

[Hank]

Payback time for the GD Dallas Stars coming soon. Yes, I'm still bitter.

 

Me too :angry:

[Swedesessed]

I don't know about this but Biron is looking like the Giguire of old in the Playoffs when the ducks made it that one year... EVERYTHING is going his way... every bounce every post hit combined with really strong play... its great to see. hopefully it will last... at least if it doesn't we still have miller to fall back on or maybe they'll throw miller in right away.

 

 

the thing I see the most improvement in when it comes to Biron is his strong play in 3rd periods. The old Marty seemed to have more meltdowns in the 3rd, now he is keeping the Sabres in the game and closing the door MUCH better then in the past.

[Saber61]

Me too :angry:

agreed.... ill never get over that disgrace...