Report: Ryan Miller expected to sign with Anaheim Ducks as free agent

Ryan Miller’s days as a Vancouver Canuck may soon be over.

The 36-year-old goaltender is still without a contract extension and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. While other teams aren’t allowed to officially sign him until then, they are permitted to speak with him.

It appears, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, that Miller may be heading to Anaheim on a cheap contract.

Goalie market: there is a lot of expectation of Ryan Miller to Anaheim for approximately $1 million, although I’m not sure if bonuses will be added to that.

Anaheim makes a lot of sense for Miller, whose wife (Hollywood actress Noureen DeWulf) and young child live in Southern California. While the Ducks won’t be able to give him a starting job, the top job might not be his in Vancouver either.

In Vancouver, Miller would be given the opportunity to battle for ice time with Jacob Markstrom, although it appears the Canucks are leaning towards giving the Swedish netminder more of the net next season. If he goes to the Ducks, he will quite clearly be John Gibson’s backup.

On the flip side, the Ducks are a good team while the Canucks will not be doing much winning next year.

The Canucks have said they’re interested in re-signing Miller, but they may need to turn their attention elsewhere in free agency.

With Ryan Miller to Ducks rumours, been told the #Canucks have not called the agents for goalies Brian Elliott, Chad Johnson & Steve Mason.

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 28, 2017

There are a number of available goalies, and it appears pending UFA Mike Condon has piqued their interest.

Been told 1 goalie that the #Canucks have interest in is Mike Condon who played in Ottawa last year.

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 28, 2017

Condon is 10 years younger than Miller and three months younger than Markstrom. He posted a respectable .914 save percentage (identical to Miller had last year) in 40 games with the Ottawa Senators last season.

Other notable unrestricted free agent goalies available include Jonathan Bernier, Darcy Kuemper, Anders Nilsson, and Keith Kinkaid.

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