This one is going to likely be an unpopular decision, as it probably should be. Buffalo Sabres fans will see a very familiar jersey number back between the pipes this season, and according to social media, not many people are happy about it. New jersey numbers were announced via the Buffalo Sabres Twitter account yesterday, and newly signed goalie Aaron Dell will be wearing number 30. Another goalie that wore that number in Buffalo? Ryan Miller.
It will certainly be awkward seeing Dell wear 30. It is a number that should be hanging in the rafters inside KeyBank Arena in Buffalo, but will once again be on the ice. Ryan Miller’s number will likely be immortalized in the Sabres stadium at some point, but it will now have to wait.
The Sabres brought in Aaron Dell, along with Craig Anderson, in response to losing Linus Ullmark and Carter Hutton to free agency this offseason. Dell has a career 2.83 goals allowed average and .906 save percentage. At 32 years old, he is on the back end of his playing career.
The Sabres’ last franchise goalie was Ryan Miller. Miller left Buffalo during the 2013-2014 season and since then, it has been a revolving door of goalies coming in and out of Buffalo. Miller is Sabres royalty, and it just doesn’t really feel right that another player is wearing his number in goal. It gives off a weird vibe.
Ryan Miller should absolutely have his number retired in Buffalo. And it is understandable that fans are not pleased with Aaron Dell wearing Miller’s number. But it is unlikely that Dell will be in Buffalo for very long. So hopefully we will see Ryan Miller’s number in the rafters in Buffalo sooner rather than later.