Drew Miller Andrew Miller ( born February 17 , 1984 in Dover , New Jersey but raised in East Lansing , Michigan ) is an American professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Miller was drafted in the sixth round , 186th overall , in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut on April 19 , 2007 , playing with the Anaheim Ducks against the Minnesota Wild . He is the younger brother of Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller . Early career . Miller played junior hockey for the now - defunct Capital Centre Pride of the North American Hockey League ( NAHL ) from 2001 – 2003 , totaling 32 goals and 28 assists for 60 points in 102 games . Early in the 2002 – 03 season , he graduated to the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) . At 17 , Miller played 49 games for the River City Lancers ( now known as the Omaha Lancers ) of the USHL in the 2002 – 03 season , posting 14 goals and 11 assists for 25 points . He scored nine points in 11 playoff games to help lead the Lancers to the USHL Finals , where they lost three games to one to the Lincoln Stars . Miller played with fellow NHLers Matt Carle and Paul Stastny and was named to the USHL All - Star team . Miller spent the next three years playing for the Michigan State Spartans of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) . He scored his first collegiate goal on January 2 , 2004 , against the Northern Michigan University Wildcats . The winger improved his point totals in each of his three seasons at Michigan State , scoring 10 , 33 and 43 points in 41 , 40 and 44 games , respectively . In his last season with the Spartans , Miller was named the team ' s MVP and the CCHA ' s Best Defensive Forward . He was also named to the Association ' s All - Tournament Team after helping Michigan State capture the CCHA title . Miller was drafted by the then Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the sixth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft , 186th overall . Minor pros . After leading the Spartans in both points and as captain in the 2005 – 06 season , Miller signed a two - year entry level contract with the Ducks on May 4 , 2006 . He joined Anaheim ' s AHL affiliate , the Portland Pirates , during their second round series against the Hartford Wolf Pack , playing in one game . The next season , he suited up for 79 matches with the Pirates , scoring 16 goals and totaling 20 assists for 36 points to place third on the team . NHL career . In 2007 , Miller once again moved up to a higher league after completing the regular season with another team . On April 16 , Miller was recalled from Portland by Anaheim . Three days later , he made his Ducks and NHL debut at the Honda Center , playing in what would be the final game of the Western Conference Quarterfinal series against the Minnesota Wild . Coach Randy Carlyle had placed the left winger on the Ducks ' top line , alongside 2007 All - Stars Andy McDonald and Teemu Selänne , to fill in for the injured Chris Kunitz . In Game One , Miller forced a turnover that Selanne and McDonald capitalized on for the Ducks ' first goal of the series , and would go on to win his first Stanley Cup in just his first four games in the NHL . He would spend two more seasons in the Ducks organization before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the summer of 2009 for Russian winger Evgeni Artyukhin . On November 10 , 2009 , Miller was put on waivers by the Lightning and was subsequently claimed by the Detroit Red Wings . He made his Red Wings debut on November 12 against the Vancouver Canucks , recording 11 : 33 minutes of ice time . He scored his first goal in a Detroit uniform on November 23 against the Nashville Predators . Originally brought into Detroit to replace injured players on a temporary basis , he effectively outplayed other young members of the Red Wings . He has since filled in comfortably playing a variety of roles . He finished the 2009 – 10 season with 10 goals , and 9 assists ( zero points with the Lightning ) in 80 games split between the Lightning and Red Wings . During the summer of 2010 the Red Wings re - signed Miller to a one - year $ 650 , 000 contract . During the 2010 – 11 season Miller played 68 games , scoring 10 goals , and adding 8 assists . He played the role of a grinder , spending time primarily on the third and fourth lines , while also contributing on the penalty kill . Most games Miller would play on a line with Justin Abdelkader , Darren Helm , Patrick Eaves and / or veteran Kris Draper . This would alter game to game depending on injuries , and or the matchups coach Mike Babcock saw fit in that particular game . Following his season , the Red Wings rewarded Miller ' s efforts by re - signing him to a two - year contract worth $ 1 . 675 million on July 1 . Each year has an annual cap hit of $ 837 , 500 . Personal . Miller comes from a long line of hockey players , as he is the tenth member of his family to play the sport for Michigan State . His best - known relative is older brother and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller . He is also the cousin of former NHLers Kip , Kevin and Kelly Miller . Miller has always been involved with the communities in which he plays , taking part in programs such as Teams for Toys , Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( DARE ) and the Special Olympics . He even created the Spartan Buddy Program , which enabled MSU athletes to make regular visits to local pediatric hospital patients .