Kevan Miller is a free agent at the end of the season, but despite being out due to injury since April of 2019, the 32-year-old defender isn’t ready to pack it in, per Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com.
Miller, currently employed by the Boston Bruins, went under the knife for the fourth time with the most recent procedure on his kneecap. With all that he’s been through, a return to the ice would be a remarkable story. Signed originally by the Bruins six years ago as an undrafted free agent, Miller made a role for himself in Boston – when healthy. The Bruins missed Miller’s presence in the Stanley Cup Final last year, writes Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports, and if he’s able to get himself back on the ice, he could be helpful to a team again.
Still, given the financial implications of the pandemic and Miller’s long history of knee troubles, it would be surprising to see Miller drum up much interest in free agency. That said, there’s absolutely a team out there that should be willing to give him a look – especially at the price point that he’s likely to command. Step one, however, will be for Miller to finish his rehab and get back to life as usual.
Miller had to fight his way onto an NHL team, and that kind of grit extended onto the ice where he’s succeeded as a physical, bruising defender. But that’s the kind of player he is, writes The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa. The intensity is a double-edged sword, helping Miller fight to make himself a role on the ice, while playing a role in the injuries that have kept him from it. Shinzawa provided a quote from Miller, commenting on his style of play: “I don’t have another identity, to be honest with you, especially on the ice. That’s who I am. Who I am on the ice is who I am off the ice. Maybe a little softer off the ice. That’s my bread and butter. I don’t think I’m going to go out there and score 50 goals.”
76 more games for full pension…with expansion looming….2 more seasons….
I see him playing for the league minimum somewhere.
May be wrong here, but i believe time served on the IR counts towards time served in NHL. He should collect his pension.
Miller could get a one-year deal at the league minimum, but he may be forced to go to a camp on a tryout & attempt to earn a contract that way
I could see him returning to the Bruins in the case they move on from John Moore or Krug. He’d be a cheap depth piece who’s well liked and is great in their system. Assuming he can ever get healthy enough.
Moore is likely going to have to be moved to clear more cap space to sign other players. Miller’s fate isn’t tied to Krug’s. The issue Miller has is that Lauzon can bring the same physical play and is better in other aspects of his game than Miller is at this point. Miller was never a good skater to begin with & even if he comes back, he isn’t going to be the same. You can’t break your kneecap twice and have 4 surgeries on that knee without having it slow you down a little. I feel like the Bruins have better internal options than Miller at this point & that bring Miller back would just be a sentimental move. Maybe if Miller is unsigned, bring him on a tryout, but I can’t see using cap space on him when the Bruins have so many other guys they need to get under contract
Go Cats Go