With Josh Harding still on the shelf while attempting to better treat the Multiple Sclerosis he continues to battle, Minnesota looks as if they’re looking for a backup plan in case he remains out for an extended period.
Harding has missed the last 16 games, original backup Niklas Backstrom has fallen apart in net this year, and current starter Darcy Kuemper is performing well, but was also completely untested coming into the year, leaving some to wonder how long he can maintain this level of play.
Knowing those facts, multiple reports have surfaced over the last week that Sabres goalie Ryan Miller is an option for the Wild.
Buffalo is dead last in the Eastern Conference in points, and Minnesota could clearly use some help in net, so original reports were met with some skepticism, rejected by many as insiders just putting pieces together rather than having any concrete information to go off of.
But a few reports in the last 24 hours lend a bit more credence to the rumors coming to fruition soon.
Couple of sources are telling me the Wild and Capitals are looking at the possibility of acquiring Ryan Miller. #sabres #nhl
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 4, 2014
Renaud, a respected insider with generally believable information, points specifically at Minnesota and Washington as possible trade partners.
A report today from Sports Illustrated says a trade, should it happen at all, would likely be prior to Friday’s Olympic break roster freeze.
An NESN story provides evidence that Buffalo is looking to move the possible Olympic starter, with Sabres’ general manager Tim Murray saying Wednesday he is ready to deal Miller, but needs a partner to do so.
Pro Hockey Talk adds that Murray has talked to “a couple teams” about moving Miller, but that no team has stood out above the rest as of yet.
All signs point to a deal, whether it be to Minnesota remains to be seen.
