Drew Miller

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Drew Miller
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Miller warming up with Detroit during the 2011–12 NHL season
Born (1984-02-17) February 17, 1984 (age 40)
Dover, NJ, USA
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Detroit Red Wings
Anaheim Ducks
Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL Draft 186th overall, 2003
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Playing career 2006–present

Andrew Miller (born February 17, 1984) is an American professional ice hockey winger who is currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Miller was born in Dover, New Jersey, but grew up in East Lansing, Michigan.

Miller was drafted in the sixth round, 186th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut on April 19, 2007, playing with the Anaheim Ducks against the Minnesota Wild. He is the younger brother of Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller.

Playing career

Junior

Miller played junior hockey for the now-defunct Capital Centre Pride of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) from 2001–2003, totaling 32 goals and 28 assists for 60 points in 102 games. Early in the 2002–03 season, he graduated to the United States Hockey League (USHL).

At 17, Miller played 49 games for the River City Lancers (now known as the Omaha Lancers) of the USHL in the 2002–03 season, posting 14 goals and 11 assists for 25 points. He scored nine points in 11 playoff games to help lead the Lancers to the USHL Finals, where they lost three games to one to the Lincoln Stars. Miller played with fellow NHLers Matt Carle and Paul Stastny and was named to the USHL All-Star team.

Miller spent the next three years playing for the Michigan State Spartans of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). He scored his first collegiate goal on January 2, 2004, against the Northern Michigan University Wildcats. The winger improved his point totals in each of his three seasons at Michigan State, scoring 10, 33 and 43 points in 41, 40 and 44 games, respectively. In his last season with the Spartans, Miller was named the team's MVP and the CCHA's Best Defensive Forward. He was also named to the Association's All-Tournament Team after helping Michigan State capture the CCHA title.

Miller was drafted by the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the sixth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, 186th overall.

Professional

After leading the Spartans in both points and as captain in the 2005–06 season, Miller signed a two-year entry level contract with the Ducks on May 4, 2006. He joined Anaheim's AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, during their second round series against the Hartford Wolf Pack, playing in one game.

The next season, he suited up for 79 matches with the Pirates, scoring 16 goals and totaling 20 assists for 36 points to place third on the team.

In 2007, Miller once again moved up to a higher league after completing the regular season with another team. On April 16, Miller was recalled from Portland by Anaheim. Three days later, he made his Ducks and NHL debut at the Honda Center, playing in what would be the final game of the Western Conference Quarterfinal series against the Minnesota Wild.

Coach Randy Carlyle had placed the left winger on the Ducks' top line, alongside 2007 All-Stars Andy McDonald and Teemu Selänne, to fill in for the injured Chris Kunitz. In Game One, Miller forced a turnover that Selanne and McDonald capitalized on for the Ducks' first goal of the series. He would also played in the Stanley Cups Finals and would go on to win his first Stanley Cup in just 3 games in the NHL. He would spend two more seasons in the Ducks organization before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the summer of 2009 for Russian winger Evgeni Artyukhin.

On November 10, 2009, Miller was put on waivers by the Lightning and was subsequently claimed by the Detroit Red Wings. He made his Red Wings debut on November 12 against the Vancouver Canucks, recording 11:33 minutes of ice time. He scored his first goal in a Detroit uniform on November 23 against the Nashville Predators. Originally brought into Detroit to replace injured players on a temporary basis, he effectively outplayed other young members of the Red Wings. He has since filled in comfortably playing a variety of roles. He finished the 2009–10 season with 10 goals, and 9 assists (zero points with the Lightning) in 80 games split between the Lightning and Red Wings.[1]

During the summer of 2010 the Red Wings re-signed Miller to a one-year $650,000 contract. During the 2010–11 season Miller played 68 games, scoring 10 goals, and eight assists. He played the role of a grinder, spending time primarily on the third and fourth lines, while also contributing on the penalty kill. Most games Miller would play on a line with Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm, Patrick Eaves and/or veteran Kris Draper. This would alter game to game depending on injuries, and or the matchups coach Mike Babcock saw fit in that particular game.

Following his season, the Red Wings rewarded Miller's efforts by re-signing him to a two-year contract worth $1.675 million on July 1. Each year has an annual cap hit of $837,500.[2] On February 19, 2012, Miller scored his career high 12th goal of the regular season against the San Jose Sharks in a 3-2 Red Wings victory.

During the 2012 NHL lockout, Miller signed with the British Elite Ice Hockey League club Braehead Clan.[3]

On June 29, 2013, Miller signed a three year, $4.05 million contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings.[4]

On March 31, 2015, Miller suffered two lacerations, one on his right cheek, and one above his right eye, after the skate of Mark Stone of the Ottawa Senators struck him in the face. The four-inch long cut required 60 stitches to close the lacerations. He did not sustain damage to his eye or his vision.[5][6]

Miller finished the 2014–15 season with five goals and eights assists in 82 games. He led all NHL forwards and established a career high in blocked shots during the regular season with 99. This is the highest single-season total in blocked shots by a forward in the past seven seasons. He has led all Red Wings forwards in blocked shots for five straight seasons.[7]

Personal life

Miller comes from a long line of hockey players, as he is the tenth member of his family to play the sport for Michigan State. His best-known relative is older brother and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller. He is also the cousin of former NHL players Kip, Kevin and Kelly Miller.

Miller has always been involved with the communities in which he plays, taking part in programs such as Teams for Toys, DARE and the Special Olympics. He even created the Spartan Buddy Program, which enabled MSU athletes to make regular visits to local pediatric hospital patients.

Miller is often identified by his signature grey hair.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Capital Centre NAHL 37 4 3 7 22
2001–02 Capital Centre NAHL 54 18 16 34 56
2002–03 Capital Centre NAHL 14 9 9 18 12
2002–03 River City Lancers USHL 49 14 11 25 26 11 5 4 9 6
2003–04 Michigan State CCHA 41 4 6 10 39
2004–05 Michigan State CCHA 40 17 16 33 20
2005–06 Michigan State CCHA 44 18 25 43 30
2005–06 Portland Pirates AHL 1 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Portland Pirates AHL 79 16 20 36 51
2006–07 Anaheim Ducks NHL 3 0 0 0 2
2007–08 Portland Pirates AHL 31 16 20 36 12 16 1 7 8 12
2007–08 Anaheim Ducks NHL 26 2 3 5 6
2008–09 Iowa Chops AHL 53 23 15 38 10
2008–09 Anaheim Ducks NHL 27 4 6 10 17 13 2 1 3 2
2009–10 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 14 0 0 0 2
2009–10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 66 10 9 19 10 12 1 1 2 4
2010–11 Detroit Red Wings NHL 67 10 8 18 13 9 1 1 2 4
2011–12 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 14 11 25 20 5 0 1 1 2
2012–13 Braehead Clan EIHL 23 15 15 30 7
2012–13 Detroit Red Wings NHL 44 4 4 8 2 6 1 1 2 2
2013–14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 82 7 8 15 21 5 0 1 1 0
2014–15 Detroit Red Wings NHL 82 5 8 13 25 7 1 1 2 2
NHL totals 488 56 57 113 116 60 6 7 13 18

Awards and honours

Award Year
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2006 [8]

References

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External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Best Defensive Forward
2005-06
Succeeded by
Nathan Davis
Preceded by Ilitch Humanitarian Award
2005-06
Succeeded by
Tim Cook