Mar 21, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30) before the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Miller has only played for one team during his career in the NHL, but his 500th career game may very well be his last in a Buffalo Sabres jersey.

John Vogl of the Buffalo News reported yesterday that Ryan Miller’s Buffalo townhouse went up for sale. His future in Buffalo is still unclear, but this may mark the end of an era in Buffalo that has seen one of the best goaltenders in the last decade of hockey.

There has been no shortage of rumors circulating the past few years regarding Ryan Miller’s status in Buffalo, but as much as it pains me to admit, I believe it’s finally his time to part ways with this team. It’s a gut wrenching feeling, there’s no way around it. I’ve had the blue and gold number 30 jersey hanging in my closet for years, but it may be time to hang it up for good.

For a team that is entering a “re-building” phase that will not be a major postseason contender for at least a few years, there’s no reason to keep a player like Ryan Miller around. Being one of the highest paid goalies in the league and the second highest paid player on the Buffalo Sabres, his departure from the team will free up a substantial amount of cap room that will allow the Sabres to make some serious off-season moves. Miller is still playing great hockey and will definitely add tremendous value to another team that can better utilize his skills as a top tier goaltender. He’s entering the last year of his contract with Buffalo, and if the right offer comes along I think the Sabres will jump all over it.

No doubt he’s become a household name here in Western New York, a real fan favorite, but amidst a season that saw the firing of long-term head coach Lindy Ruff, and the dishing of the team’s captain for players of the future, no one is safe in Buffalo anymore. As Jhonas Enroth continues to shine between the pipes for the Sabres, he might be assuming the role of Buffalo’s number one in net as early as next season.

Jan. 16, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30) leaves the ice as goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) enters to take his place against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

“I don’t know which way it’s going to go, so I’m not going to talk like I’m gone,” Miller said. “I think I’ve got a lot more hockey in me, so being able to just kind of reflect and enjoy a moment is nice, but it’s going to be another hockey game and I have to prepare and compete. I’m just trying to enjoy that part of it. That’s what I like to do. That’s what I know to do.”

If this really is his last game in Buffalo, Ryan Miller has earned the love and respect of this city throughout his time here. It’s a proud feeling being able to watch your team’s goaltender start for team USA in the Olympics. Not many hockey fans can say that. I’m excited to see what he could do with a real team in front of him, especially a solid defensive core. He’s a Stanley Cup caliber goalie, and I think he’s got a few championship runs in him before his career is over. We all just wish it could of been with Buffalo.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Following last night’s rousing, and many would say surprising, victory over the hotter-than-hot Pittsburgh Penguins, the Buffalo Sabres seemed poised to become major sellers on the final day of trading in the NHL this season.  And why not?  The Sabres proved they still have a team with some desirable parts, not the least of which would be Ryan Miller, who has been playing great hockey as of late and was a huge reason why the super-charged offense of the Penguins only managed to tally one goal last night.  A lot of people feel the Sabres should take advantage of this, including Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News, who tweeted this last night:

Can’t help but be impressed by #Sabres‘ game at PIT. My reaction: Sell Darcy Sell.

— Mike Harrington (@BNHarrington) April 3, 2013

There’s only one problem with the “Sell Darcy Sell” approach: it’s absolutely the worst idea at this point in time.

For starters, the very fact that someone like Ryan Miller played so well last night should make everyone in the Sabres organization realize that he’s still an elite net-minder.  (Bothered by the word elite?  Than just substitute the phrase “damn good,” and let it go!)   Trading him for a few picks would be absolute insanity; the Sabres would need to get equal value for him in order to keep their organization from becoming the absolute laughingstock of the NHL.  The problem is, who is going to be willing to give up a player who is even close to being equal in value to a starting net-minder?  If the Sabres were looking to outright replace Miller, their options are . . . well, they don’t have any, not with this news out of Phoenix:

Word out of the Coyotes is that they’re likely not trading Mike Smith. focus is on maybe re-signing him, whether that’s today or later

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) April 3, 2013

And if you think the Kings are going to move Jonathan Bernier right now . . . well, that just makes me smile!

So the Sabres cannot swap Miller for another instant starting goaltender – can they possibly land a top-25 forward for him?  The pickings for those types of players are slim.  Sure, Mike Riberio has put up good numbers during his career, but he’s 33, and he’s more of a second-line player.  Besides:

It will be a shock if the Capitals trade Mike Ribeiro today, even if don’t sign a contract extension today. #transactions2013

— Renaud Lavoie (@RenLavoieRDS) April 3, 2013

The reality is, if the Sabres trade any of their three best players, they will most likely only get picks in return.  Rumor has it that the Columbus Blue Jackets are interested in Pominville, and hold the LA Kings’ first-round pick, which they are willing to part with (this is according to My NHL Trade Rumors), but unless the Sabres feel really lucky, I think it is insane to trade a proven player for the roll of the dice.  If the Sabres cannot get equal value, they should hold onto their big three . . . for now.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The second problem with selling your best players now is that your team is still within a miracle of making the playoffs.  I know that sounds ridiculous, discussing the playoffs when this team went down to Florida last week with playoff dreams and came home with nothing but nightmares . . . and yet, if the Sabres beat New Jersey this Friday, they will be only three points behind the Devils, who currently sit in seventh place. Shipping out Miller, Jason Pominville, and/or Thomas Vanek today means the Sabres are not even going to try and pretend that there is still something left to play for this season.  Maybe Terry Pegula is okay with seeing a bunch of empty seats at First Niagara Center as the season winds down – who knows?  I would think not, however.  Besides, a strong finish to the season might actually make some of the players more valuable come the offseason.  It’s not like Pominville has been lighting it up lately, but if he returns to form over the next three weeks . . . .

The Buffalo Sabres should definitely consider selling off some players, such as Drew Stafford, while they still can.  However, as last night’s game proved to the hockey world, the Sabres still have some quality players that can’t just be traded because the fans are clamoring for change.  I would like to think that the organization is savvy enough to combine the picks they have acquired with some equal-value trades to improve this team for next season, which is why I do not feel the Buffalo Sabres should trade any of the big three today.

As always, I welcome your opinions and suggestions, either here or @theamazingMrS!  Just try to play nice!