Miller set to face former Canucks teammates

GAME DAY: VANCOUVER AT ANAHEIM, 7 P.M.

ANAHEIM, California — Ryan Miller was pressed for time.

Getting his game back in order, after a lingering wrist injury delayed his debut with the Anaheim Ducks until late October, remains a maintenance priority.

Getting better acclimated with frantic Southern California freeways — so those treks between his Los Angeles home and Anaheim area rental are manageable to maximize family time — requires day-to-day diligence.

Amid all this, Miller still finds time to talk. He always did.

Ryan Miller embraced the role of competitor and mentor in Vancouver. A passion for his profession, his family and the relationships forged in three challenging seasons with the Canucks is not lost on the 37-year-old stopper.

Miller could have remained a Canuck had he accepted a oneyear incentive-laden contract extension. But on the first day of free agency he got bigger bucks and better terms in a two-year, $4-million US commitment from the Ducks.

He also got a window to win it all and a better bond with his L.A.-based actress wife, Noureen DeWulf, and their 2 12 ⁄ -year-old son, Bodhi. You can’t beat that.

“I made sure to communicate that back to the boys in Vancouver,” said Miller. “That was a big reason I made this decision. It was based on the other people in my life and not just my hockey family. I’ve done the transition with three different teams and the one thing that’s different is that I left a team where I made great relationships.

“I really wanted to make my mark in Vancouver and do something with that group. It didn’t work out the way we hoped. The one that felt weird starting this season is that there was a comfort level in Vancouver and we enjoyed our time there.”

The on-ice experience was often trying and constant losing can grate on any player, let alone one in the twilight of his career. Yet, Miller was always meticulous in his practice and game preparation and detailed in descriptions of what went wrong on so many nights.

In his final season of a threeyear, $18-million US contract, he faced 40 or more shots on nine occasions — including three times in the final month of Vancouver’s sorry season — and was often the only reason the Canucks were even in games.

His lasting legacy is his mentorship of Jacob Markstrom. The more competitive and composed Canucks goalie you see today is a product of the student learning from the professor.

“I’m proud of him,” said Miller. “After I signed here, I passed along a few things. That’s always been my intention, to be the best I can be because it’s going to help me in the long run, help the team and Jacob. He has always had all the tools — he’s very athletic and has the size and the mentality.

“He’s harder on himself than he lets on, but he has an easygoing demeanour. If he can harness it all the right way, he could be in a good place. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s playing good hockey — he’s got the instincts.”

Markstrom credits a newfound perspective and better battle level — especially after early goals — to the tutelage of Miller.

“He called me a couple of times this summer after he signed in Anaheim and I really wanted him back in Vancouver, but he had a chance to be closer to family and you’ve got to respect that,” said Markstrom. “He helped me out a lot mentally — just to see him in practice and to talk about small technical stuff.”

The Ducks are committed to 24-year-old John Gibson as their starter, but Miller is much more than just an insurance policy should injury arise, as it did Tuesday. Miller could help get the Ducks to a place of prominence in the Pacific Division.

Miller made 33 saves, including nine in overtime, in a 4-3 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 29. He followed that up by going six rounds of a shootout Saturday in a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

On Tuesday, he relieved the injured Gibson — his mask was knocked off by a blow to the head — and played the final 6:53 of regulation. He made nine saves in a 4-3 overtime setback to the Los Angeles Kings and will start against the Canucks today.

“I’m still sorting out a few things on the ice timing wise, but for the most part, the foundational stuff is going well,” said Miller. “My biggest thing is you come to a new team and you want to contribute right away and gain the trust and then you can kind of settle in.”