Friedman: There is an “Expectation of Ryan Miller to Anaheim”

We have every reason to believe the Canucks want to bring pending unrestricted free agent goalie Ryan Miller back in the fold next season. Is the feeling mutual?

The Anaheim Ducks make sense as a destination for the 37-year-old Miller. Miller, who’s married to actress Noureen DeWoulf, wants to stay close to Los Angeles so as to be with his family as often as possible. For the Ducks, a goalie of Miller’s calibre checks off all the right boxes. Miller can mentor John Gibson and work as an insurance policy should the youngster falter or go down with injury, which happens with alarming frequency.

Is it possible, too, that the Ducks, who passed up on even making a serious offer for Miller at the deadline are having a case of non-buyers remorse? I tend to think it’s a possibility.Gibson went down with an injury in their Western Conference Finals series against the Nashville Predators and Jonathan Bernier, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, struggled to hold the fort. Is it possible they win that series if they trade for Miller? It’s too late to know at this point, but I imagine they don’t want to leave it up to chance next season.

Gibson went down with an injury in their Western Conference Finals series against the Nashville Predators and Jonathan Bernier, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, struggled to hold the fort. Is it possible they win that series if they trade for Miller? It’s too late to know at this point, but I imagine they don’t want to leave it up to chance next season.

The Canucks, try as they may, just might not have as much to offer Miller as the Ducks. They can match them in money and term, but perhaps not where it matters most: proximity to his family. That would explain why, despite their efforts to date, the Canucks haven’t been able to lock Miller up to a contract extension.

Vancouver only has Jacob Markstrom, Richard Bachman and Thatcher Demko under contract next season. One of them is ready for an extended look at the NHL level. Today’s news could force the Canucks to enter the trade or free agent market to find a suitable plan B for Miller.