Miller trade is a great kick off to Friday Happy Hour. 🍻 Cheers, Jason pic.twitter.com/ZS4nR1zRtc

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 28, 2019

Jason Botterill promised changes.

Here they come.

The Buffalo Sabres GM has acquiredsecond pair right shot D Colin Miller from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (from St. Louis) and a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Jason Botterill moment before trade call with George McPhee #SkiMask #Sabres pic.twitter.com/KhAgrxQjLA

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 28, 2019

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We have acquired Colin Miller from the @vegasgoldenknights in exchange for a second-round pick in 2021 (from St. Louis) and a fifth-round pick in 2022.

A post shared by Buffalo Sabres (@buffalosabres) on Jun 28, 2019 at 3:47pm PDT

Miller is a tremendous value. 40+ point producer. He’s 26, cost controlled at $3.875M AAV for next three seasons. Modified NMC kicks in 7/1/20

Is Ristolainen on the move now that Miller and Montour are T4D? #Sabres

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 28, 2019

Miller, 26, spent the last two seasons in Vegas, where he led all Golden Knights defensemen in both assists (57) and points (70) during that stretch. Miller recorded 29 points (3+26) in 65 games for the Golden Knights in his fourth NHL season in 2018-19.

Through 250 NHL regular-season games with Vegas and Boston, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native has scored 22G,77A.

Botterill has effectively flipped his depth.

The Sabres were strong on the left side of their D corps the pat two seasons and weak on the right side save Rasmus Dahlin and Rasmus Ristolainen. At the 2019 NHL Trade deadline, Botterill flipped lefty Brendan Guhle to Anahaim for righty Brandon Montour.

Today, the Sabres boast of three top four, right shot D in Montour, Ristolainen and Miller.



Ralph Krueger and Steve Smith suddenly have a formidable force on their right D battalion.

#Sabres formidable right D:

Montour
Miller
Ristolainen
Borgen
Bogosian

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 28, 2019

Miller trade salve in the wound of Ryan O’Reilly trade. St. Louis second rounder included in the deal with Cheektovegas #Sabres

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 28, 2019

I smell another trade coming.

By acquiring Montour and Miller, Botterill has seemingly pounded the "For Sale" sign on the front lawn of miniute munching, all-purpose D-man Rasmus Ristolainen.

Ristolainen, 24, has given the Sabres 7 season of solid service.

His days are likely numbered no that Miller and Montour are in the fold and rookie Will Borgen is ready to make the leap to the NHL in the next six months.



At what price Ristolainen?


Think second line center in the form of Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sean Couturier, Anthony Cirelli or Nazem Kadri.


More to come...

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