EVERY cloud has a silver lining and, for Jordan Krestanovich, the Braehead Clan head coach, it comes in the form of Drew Miller.
As a financial storm has left the NHL engulfed in chaos, many of the league's big names are packing up their skates to migrate east for a winter of discontent.
A lockout over how to split $3.3bn worth of revenue between owners and players has brought the game across the pond to its knees, but clubs all over Eastern Europe are waiting with their arms and chequebooks open. With no games likely to be played until October 24 at the earliest, NHL players have settled down in various far flung reaches of the continent, patiently waiting for the squall to pass.
However, eyebrows will have been raised on both sides of the Atlantic at the sight of Detroit Red Wings' Miller blowing in to Braehead. The 28-year-old, who was a Stanley Cup winner with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, brings with him a touch of class which is largely alien in the Elite Ice Hockey League. While former NHL men are common in the UK – Krestanovich being one of them – it's almost unheard of that a player in his prime such as Miller would grace a British rink, no matter how brief the visit.
"The lockout is unfortunate but it is an awesome opportunity for us," said the Braehead head coach, who will pitch the former Tampa Bay Lightening man in against Dundee Stars on Friday. "The circumstances will not suit every club in Europe but it's certainly benefited us. Drew is coming here to play hard and we are ecstatic to have him. It's taken a while but I used to play with his agent and one thing led to another and thankfully a deal could be done."
Miller, who is due in Glasgow tomorrow, will bring with him both experience and expectation that he can supply not just flair but also stability. Krestanovich has endured a rocky start to his first campaign as Clan player/coach, with the Braehead Arena side recording just four wins from their first nine matches. However, given that only one tie was played at home – they can thank Disney On Ice for the disruption – the Canadian can perhaps be forgiven for the lack of consistency within his ranks.
Miller has the opportunity to change the Clan's fortunes and, while there has been much scepticism Stateside over the mass exodus, with experts believing the stars will return home as soon as the dispute is resolved, Krestanovich is sure his new signing is committed to the cause. "It's a massive signing for us," explained the player/coach, who himself enjoyed a spell in the NHL with Colorado Avalanche. "We are pretty deep up front but he's a 15-goal scorer in the NHL, he will make our team so much better, all our lines will be much stronger.
"He's a winner and he is ready to go and is wanting to play hard for us. Drew plays for the Detroit Red Wings and has won a Stanley Cup, that speaks for itself. For us this was the perfect situation. Things thankfully worked out and we're looking forward to getting Drew here and getting him playing this weekend."
Miller said: "I am happy to have signed a contract with the Clan and I look forward to getting over there and working with the guys."
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