Article content continued

“I have to talk to management at some point and see if they’re interested in something,” added Miller. “They’d have to give me an indication of a guideline — or what the plan will be — and kind of go from there. I’ve become more comfortable here and I’ve been trying to make the best of this year.”

Trevor Linden, president of hockey operations, will take a hard look at where Miller might fit in future plans. The Canucks could always opt for a bridge goalie, or Miller could sign elsewhere, but they know strong goaltending is the franchise backbone.

“Situations are fluid and change and we’re going to re-assess at the end of the year and see what our options are,” said Linden. “The one thing we haven’t talked about this year is goaltending because it has been good. And Ryan has been a big part of that. He has given us stability and a foundation — he’s a pro.

“It’s a good setup with him and Jacob, but a lot could happen by the end of the year and we need to dig into these things and figure out our options.”

It’s a season that has included a nine-game losing streak and a six-game winning streak for Miller. He also reached the 350-career wins plateau on Jan. 2 to join John Vanbiesbrouck (374) and Tom Barrasso (369) as the only U.S.-born goalies to reach that mark.

“From here, it’s going to be not proving it to anybody else, but proving to myself that I can play well and enjoy it and get into the playoff mix,” said Miller. “Any day in the NHL is a good day and I’m not going to close any doors. It would be an outstanding opportunity to continue to play, but that is not in this moment.