Ex-NHLer Ryan Miller ‘happy’ to see pal Jonathan Quick set to pass all-time US goalie wins record

TEMPE, Ariz. — It’s a happy and sad time for Ryan Miller, who holds the record for most wins by an American-born goaltender for five years with 391.

So he said.

But when Miller is asked about the goaltender who has a chance to dethrone him if he gets the start Saturday against the Coyotes, Jonathan Quick of the Rangers, the immense respect, admiration and personal friendship that Miller, 43, says has for him that’s all that stands out.

“It’s just recognizing that we both became friends over the years and so I always enjoyed competing against him,” Miller told The Post over the phone Friday.

“I really enjoyed our time as teammates on the (US) national team. Also being parents of teammates, our sons have played hockey together over the years. We have seen all sides of it. I’m happy for him, that’s for sure.

“On the USA hockey side, we represent the country and I’m just happy to have been a part of something that moved something forward. It’s something you hope to continue to progress because it shows the success we’ve built as Americans playing hockey.

To Miller, and many others, Quick represented a new generation of goaltenders.

He brought a new style to the league, which, coupled with his competitive nature, forged a sort of level at the goalkeeping position that had never been seen before.

The two competed against each other in the NHL for 15 years, with Quick playing for the Kings and Miller touring Buffalo, St. Louis, Vancouver and Anaheim.

The rivalry games between the Kings and Ducks stand out to Miller, but Quick thinks back to his time with USA Hockey.

Quick was the third goalie behind Miller and Tim Thomas during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, where the United States won a silver medal after losing to Canada in the final match.

“Watching (Miller) and how dominant he was as a young kid, finding his way in the league and watching him play like that, it was a lot of fun,” Quick told the Post after an optional practice. at Mullett Arena on Friday.

Quick, 38, experienced a resurgence in his play in his first season with the Rangers, who benefited immensely from having a future Hall of Famer as the backup goaltender behind Igor Shesterkin.

They will benefit for at least one more year after extending Quick through 2024-25 at $1.275 million.

Among the top 10 goaltenders, who have made at least 20 starts, in save percentage (.916) and goals against average (2.44), Quick has simply looked timeless in the crease this season.

Miller considered Quick a pioneer in the way he fits into the post, a tactic used to cover the lower part of the net.

Quick’s explosiveness and ability to recover in other situations, however, had a major impact on what is now considered the modern way of playing goalie.

“Our goalie coach in Los Angeles, Billy Ranford, earlier in our career we had some difficulties with Sedins (Henrik and Daniel), who were the best in the league at the time. around the net, behind the net, the short little passes. “Quick said of this aspect of his game. “We, like most players in the league, have had a hard time understanding how to play this and so it’s something we’ve worked on, on the way of managing their two or three game behind and around the net.

“It’s just something we developed together. Which was comfortable in these situations. (Vancouver) beat us in the playoffs (2010), maybe the year before, we were kind of preparing like they were the team to beat here in the West. So we ask ourselves, “Okay, how can we beat them?” “We kind of developed it that way.

“It ends up being a way of playing these little low plays that work for a lot of different teams and situations.”

From opponents to teammates to opponents again, Quick and Miller now watch their sons, Carter and Bodhi, play together on the same youth hockey team.

At one point, both children played goalie, but now only Quick’s son plays that position.

They’re just enjoying this time as friends and fathers, which has added a unique layer to this passing of the baton.

Quick said Miller texted him after the Boston game when he had 391 wins.

Presumably Miller wouldn’t let anyone else break his record.

“I think we’ve had a moment here in the last five or 10 years where things have changed in American goalie development,” said Miller, who is now a goalie scout and goalie development coach for the Sharks.

“Installed some guys who are currently having a lot of success. I know that working a little bit with American hockey, I know that our goal is to continue to enable that development. Goalkeeping is a difficult job. You wonder why some regions have been successful in recruiting goaltenders and you wonder what it all means and you wonder why other regions that traditionally produce a lot of goaltenders no longer do so.

“That’s part of the mystery, but I think the United States did it right and really supported that position. It’s only fitting that we see records like this rising.”