Fansided

The gnarliest playoff beards in the history of every NHL team

By Bruin Belisle

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 25: Lanny McDonald #9 of the Calgary Flames hugs the Stanley Cup Trophy in the locker room after the Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals on May 25, 1989 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 25: Lanny McDonald #9 of the Calgary Flames hugs the Stanley Cup Trophy in the locker room after the Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals on May 25, 1989 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Ryan Miller speaks to media after he was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the St. Louis Blues on February 28, 2014 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Ryan Miller speaks to media after he was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the St. Louis Blues on February 28, 2014 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Miller

Playoffs? Buffalo Sabres? Despite the Sabres having some recent struggles reaching the post-season, there was a time they were actually good. The late 1990s Sabres teams led by Dominic Hasek, Miroslav Satan and Michael Peca were a Stanley Cup-caliber team. In fact, they might have won a Stanley Cup if not for a controversial call during the “no goal” game in which Brett Hull scored the Cup winner with his foot in Dominik Hasek’s crease.

Fast forward to the last time the Sabres made the playoffs in the 2010-11 season. Goaltender Ryan Miller and a couple other Sabres decided they would dedicate their playoff beards to the late Rick Martin, who sported thick side burns and a moustache through his days as a Sabre. Miller nailed the look, while sacrificing his ability to be in the vicinity of an elementary school without getting sideways glances.

Ryan Miller played 11 seasons for the Sabres, holding a .916 save percentage and a 2.57 goals against average in that time. Miller was not always a goaltender. He played forward at a young age, until he became frustrated with his team’s goaltending. He made a deal with his father that if he could score two goals and three assists in the next game, he could buy goalie equipment. Miller had two goals and three assists in the game and the rest was history. Miller would go on to be one of the greatest American goaltenders in history (with a gnarly playoff beard to match).

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