Miller on pace for strong comeback
So far, so good for returning B’s defenseman
When the Bruins gave Kevan Miller a one-year extension worth $1.25 million, most fans had similar reactions — good on the team for giving the rugged defenseman a chance to resurrect his career, but let’s not bank on this.
But a week into training camp and just days from Thursday’s season opener, Miller appears to be more than a reclamation project.
Miller declared himself 100% healthy after Sunday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, the B’s sixth day of training camp. So far there’s been no evidence to refute that.
A healthy and effective Miller would be exactly what the B’s need on the back end. At 33, he brings some hardearned wisdom to a defense corps undergoing a significant youth movement after the departures of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug. There’s also little question that teams will be more physical with the Bruins now that the imposing Chara is elsewhere.
Miller, always a strong skater, is moving like his old self before a broken kneecap at the end of the 2018-19 season sent him on a 20-month odyssey to get back to the NHL. He got a chuckle when a reporter suggested that even his hands look a little softer.
“I’m just in a different position than I was before the injury, personally,” said Miller. “Sometimes you take things for granted and, playing in the NHL, you take it for granted. And that’s something I’m not going to take for granted any more. Every day, every shift, every practice I get to put my skates on and skate with the guys, I have a different appreciation for the game now. Maybe that loosens my hands up to be honest with you. Every day is a gift to be out there. If anything, that probably is the biggest thing for me, that maybe the pressure is off a little bit and I’m just enjoying every second of it.”
Miller sustained his injury when he crashed into the end boards at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul shortly before the B’s started their run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. In an attempt to make it back during the playoffs — he certainly would have helped in the Final against St. Louis — the kneecap cracked again to officially end his season. He would go under the knife a couple more times during the 2019-20 season.
As good as he looks now, it takes a little extra prep work to get him on the ice every day.
“After four procedures there’s some scar tissue and that’s just the nature of things,” said Miller. “It was the same thing with my shoulder (which required season-ending surgery in 2015) or anybody’s injury. It takes some time for that to re-absorb and get back to 100% normal. It’s obviously going to be a little bit different than my left knee, but it’s something that’s very manageable and I’m super thankful for all the help from the training staff, the coaches and players and all that. It’s something I do every day, get here early and stay a little later, but that’s part of the process.”
Miller is the lead dog on a third pair with rookie Jakub Zboril. Coach Bruce Cassidy put them together so that Zboril, the 2015 first-round pick looking to break through, can learn the ins and outs of being a professional. Miller has seen improvement from his partner.
“Jake’s a great player. He sees the ice really well. He skates really well. He makes good plays,” said Miller. “I think this is the second or third camp in a row where I’d been partnered up with him to start. I think he’s made leaps and bounds since the first time he got here to where he is now. He’s competing, he’s ready to go for practice. He’s a guy that makes sure he’s detail-oriented now. When he first got here, it was a little different and now he’s learned that. He’s done a great job in maturing and growing with the game. I’ve really enjoyed playing with him.”
Cassidy explained what he expects from Miller.
“Defend hard, take care of your own game and when it comes to what he can do for Jakub, it’s push him every day in practice to be the best pair, so it’s building the habits of being a good pro,” said Cassidy.
“Jakub has been up and down a little bit. He hasn’t been here full time. That’s something we ask of all our experienced guys. He did it with (Matt Grzelcyk). (Chara) did it with (Brandon) Carlo and (Charlie) McAvoy. Torey did it with Carlo a little bit. But other than that, we want him to be the consistent defensive presence until Jakub finds his way through the league and we see what he can do and he can’t do. That’s the ask of Kevan in that pair with Jakub.”
Miller may have plenty on his plate without mentoring a young kid on top of that, but the University of Vermont product said there are benefits of the relationship for him, too.
“It’s something I’ve done in the past and it’s not just me.
In general, it’s any older guy on the team, it’s part of your responsibility,” said Miller. “Yeah, I do have to make sure my game’s going but I think it’s something that helps me get ready more quickly. It’s something I have no problem taking on and I appreciate the coaching staff and players who put that trust in me to do it. I think it’s just a natural progression of a job that you do when you get older. And I’m the old guy on D now.”
Marchand’s progress: Brad Marchand, who underwent sports hernia surgery, left practice early and got some treatment. Cassidy said that it would be decided in the morning if Marchand would participate in Monday’s scrimmage. The coach didn’t feel like it was serious, but if Marchand misses a day it could affect his availability for Thursday’s opener in New Jersey.
Who’s in: For the first practice, Cassidy had what will be close to his opening night roster with 22 skaters and the two goalies. John Moore and Connor Clifton made up a fourth defense pair while Trent Frederic and Par Lindholm were the extra forwards. Cassidy said Urho Vaakanainen should still be considered to be in the mix but he did not want to practice with nine D-men. The roster limit is 23, so the best bet is that Frederic, who does not require waivers, will go to the taxi squad, at least until Providence opens its camp later in the month. The guess here is the same goes for Vaakanainen.
A couple of interesting names that could be exposed to waivers are forwards Zach Senyshyn, the third of the B’s three first round picks in 2015, and Greg McKegg, a free agent signed to a twoway deal in the offseason.