By Dave Lukow
Colin Miller will be missed in Las Vegas.
The veteran defenseman spent two seasons in Sin City after being picked by the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. An Ontario native, Miller played in 65 games for Vegas last year, finishing with three goals, 26 assists and 44 penalty minutes. He added a goal and two assists in six playoff appearances.
In 2017-18, Miller played a significant role in the Golden Knights run to the Stanley Cup Finals, where Vegas fell to the Washington Capitals. In 20 playoff games, he had three goals, four assists and 14 penalty minutes. During the regular season, Miller established career highs for games (82), goals (10) and assists (31). He also had 53 penalty minutes.
The Golden Knights, looking to create space under the NHL’s salary cap, sent Miller to Buffalo June 28 for a pair of draft picks, including the Sabres second-round selection in 2021. Vegas also gets Buffalo fifth-round choice in 2022.
In Buffalo, Miller is part of a deep defensive corps, which includes the top pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Rasmus Dahlin. In 82 games last year, Dahlin had nine goals and 44 points. Brandon Montour, formerly with Anaheim, is also a defenseman for the Sabres. Montour totaled eight goals, 27 assists and 56 penalty minutes in 2018-19.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings out of junior hockey in 2012, Miller has 22 goals, 99 points and 191 penalty minutes in 250 NHL games. He was a member of the Boston Bruins from 2015 through the close of the 2017 campaign. Miller won an American Hockey League (AHL) title – the Calder Cup – while with the Manchester Monarchs in 2015. He had 10 points in 19 games during Manchester’s run to the championship.
The Golden Knights made the playoffs last spring after going 43-32-7 in the regular season. Buffalo, a team that hasn’t played a postseason game since 2011, had 33 wins and 76 points.
