Miller grateful for growth and opportunities with Dallas

The Stars have adjusted their defense to a couple of losses in the past two off-seasons.
Two years ago, the front office found Jani Hakanpää as a replacement for Jamie Oleksiak.
Last summer, they had to replace the right-handed John Klingberg and did so by adding two righties in Colin Miller and Nils Lundkvist.

The acquisitions are a credit to the from office and the pro scouting staff. Miller, for example, struggled in Buffalo last season and was let go to test free agency in the summer. The Stars saw something in the 30-year-old blueliner, who battled injuries and some healthy scratches with the Sabres. After being a minus-31 in three seasons in Buffalo, Miller this season is a plus-20 with Dallas and a big help to the team defensively.
"He had a tough year, but we knew him from his Vegas days and before that," Stars GM Jim Nill said of a two-year run with the Golden Knights where Miller helped them to the Stanley Cup Final. "So, you're just trying to find the right fit and we liked where he was."
Nill said a big part of "fit" these days is cap hit. Oleksiak left to make $4.6 million a season in Seattle. Hakanpää makes $1.5 million with the Stars. Klingberg makes $7 million with Anaheim. Miller makes $1.85 million and Lundkvist make $925,000 in Dallas. That's a great job when you consider the Stars are hard against the cap with raises to other players.
"You have to find solutions," Nill said. "He's done exactly what we thought he would. He's a veteran, he has experience, he can play up and down the lineup, he's a right shot, he's got a dangerous shot, and he can skate. He has been a great fit for us."
Miller said while he looks forward to playing against his old teammates on Monday, he really doesn't want to look back at what was a tough time for him last season.
"That's behind me now and I don't really want to focus on that," he said. "It was frustrating for me when I was there, so I'm excited we're here now."

And what is making his time in Dallas so good?
"We have a great team, we have more opportunities for myself, which is great," he said. "It was a good fit for myself. Looking at the back end, I thought I could fit in pretty well."
He sure does fit. Miller averages 16:31 in time on ice and has recently been paired with Miro Heiskanen. He has 13 points on the season, which includes a goal and two assists in the past five games. He led the Stars in time on ice on Saturday in a 4-0 win over Arizona with 21:15 and seems to be taking strides forward every game.
"I think Colon has gotten better and better for us," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "For me, it's all about consistency. We know his A game is good enough to be really good at the NHL level on a nightly basis. It's making sure you keep your level at the A, B level and don't get those C, D games. I think his consistency as the year has gone on has gotten better."

Key Numbers
38
Buffalo forward Tage Thompson ranks third in the NHL with 38 goals. Stars coach Pete DeBoer calls the 6'6" forward a unicorn who mixes size with skill.
3.80
The Sabres are tied for first in the NHL in scoring at 3.80 goals per game. Dallas ranks second in goals against average at 2.54.
55.4 percent
Dallas ranks third in the NHL in faceoff winning percentage at 55.4 percent. Buffalo ranks last in faceoff winning percentage at 45.2 percent.
He said it
"There's a bunch of layers to that. Obviously, the player's is the most important opinion, but doctors, trainers, there's a management level with the cap, there's a lot of layers to it. But obviously if he's comfortable and our medical team is comfortable, he's going to play. We obviously want him in there."
- Stars coach Pete DeBoer on Roope Hintz still being a "game-time decision" after missing seven games with an upper-body injury.
Expected lineup
Robertson-Seguin-Pavelski
Benn-Johnston-Dellandrea
Marchment-Glendening-Gurianov
Olofsson-Faksa-Kiviranta
Heiskanen-Miller
Lindell-Hakanpää
Suter-Lundkvist
Oettinger
Wedgewood
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.