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Miller is ‘very open’ to signing extension in St. Louis

Ryan Miller

St Louis Blues goaltender Ryan Miller looks on during the pregame skate before an NHL hockey game against the Phoenix Coyotes, Sunday, March. 2, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. Miller is making his debut with the Blues after being traded from the Buffalo Sabres. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

AP

In all likelihood, the St. Louis Blues wouldn’t have given up so much to get Ryan Miller out of Buffalo if they didn’t think they had a very good chance of signing him beyond the end of the current season, should they so wish to do so after the playoffs, or sooner.

Still, they probably liked Miller’s answer when he was asked about his openness to staying long-term with his new club.

“I’m very open to it,” the 33-year-old pending unrestricted free agent said, per the Post-Dispatch. “But right now, it’s more about the hockey. We’re going to have a lot of time later on to feel that out.”

Not that he’d have unlimited options to sign elsewhere this summer, even if he performs well in the postseason. The goalie market is different than the market for forwards and defensemen, in that there are only 30 starting jobs available. On top of that, even the teams that don’t already have their guy locked up may be tempted to go young and cheap, rather than back up the money truck for Miller, who’s neither young nor cheap.