Evidence continues to mount that Spartan goaltender Ryan Miller will forego his senior year of eligibility in order to turn professional.

Miller, reached at his parents’ house Sunday afternoon, pleaded the fifth on the issue, as he has all summer. He told The State News only, “You’ll find out when you need to, I guess.”

But while Miller remains tight-lipped, several circumstantial indicators point toward the All-American goalie leaving school to sign a contract with the Buffalo Sabres - probably within the week. If Miller does leave, he will in all likelihood be the starting goalie for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League next year. The Americans are the top minor-league affiliate of the Sabres.

So, in lieu of direct confirmation from Miller or the Sabres, here’s a list of evidence relevant to the case.

• Exhibit A: Perhaps most telling of all, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier told The Buffalo News last week “the possibility exists” for Miller to sign with the team very soon. It’s the strongest verification yet from Regier, who has been chasing Miller all summer.

The radio station WGR in Buffalo also cited NHL sources as saying a deal is imminent.

• Exhibit B: Justin Tobe, the goalie recruit who has been waiting for Miller’s decision before deciding whether to play for the Spartans this year or spend another season in juniors, is living in Wonders Hall and is enrolled for MSU classes.

Tobe, 17, has been skating informally with the Spartans for the past month, but said Friday that he still hadn’t signed a National Letter of Intent. An official at the MSU Office of Compliance Services backed up that statement.

Tobe has declined to answer questions on the subject. MSU coaches are not allowed to comment on Tobe or his role with the team until he signs a letter of intent.

• Exhibit C: Miller was wearing red, white and blue pads at Munn Ice Arena last week, which are the Americans’ team colors. Of course, Miller also donned red, white and blue pads while playing for the U.S. team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships a few months ago, but an MSU team source said the pads seen at Munn last week are new.

So far, the lone piece of evidence contradictory to rumors of Miller’s departure has come from his cousin, Kip Miller, who was at Munn for a pro camp last week. Kip Miller, who plays for the New York Islanders, said he didn’t know if his cousin had made a decision, but hypothesized he might stay in school.

“He wasn’t out there skating with the pros, so I figured he might be coming back. I don’t know,” Kip Miller said.

“You never know, it’s getting late.”

But as for now, the jury is still out.

James Jahnke can be reached at jahnkeja@msu.edu.